Plans put on hold because of covid are finally set to come to fruition at the Old Deanery in Ripon following the appointment of Adam Jackson.

The award-winning executive chef is working with owners Rebecca and Chris Layton to provide fine dining and accommodation to sit alongside the wedding and events business the couple launched two years ago at the historic grade two listed Minster Road property.

The Jacobean mansion is situated in the shadows of Ripon Cathedral.

Ms Layton told the Stray Ferret:

“We always had an appetite for making the Old Deanery a fine dining destination that would be open on a more regular basis, but covid meant that we had to put our plans on hold.

“Now we believe that the time is right and Adam joins us as part of our exciting plans to open as Yorkshire’s newest dining experience. He is already working on menu development.”

Executive chef Adam Jackson. Picture: The Old Deanery

Award-winning Mr Jackson was head chef at the Black Swan at Oldstead, near Thirsk, where he helped it win its first Michelin star in 2012.

He then set up his own York restaurant The Park in Marmadukes Town House Hotel, which gained three AA Rosettes.

Latterly, he has worked at the Faversham Arms in Helmsley and the Bow Room at Grays Court in York.

From November, in addition to its weddings and receptions, The Old Deanery will be open for dinner, bed and breakfast stays and meals, including grazing-style meals and Sunday lunches.

This story is sponsored by Jespers Bar & Kitchen.

Danish-born Jesper Callisen opened Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen on Station Parade with the aim of creating a unique, cosy space that offers quality delicious food and drink, with amazing service, that will ensure all guests are treated to a fantastic experience.

The venue that was previously run by Filmore & Union and Hustle & Co, now has a bar, with a sophisticated restaurant upstairs serving refined British fare with an international twist in the evenings. In the Spring/Summer there is also the opportunity to enjoy al fresco drinking and dining in the courtyard and pavement seating.

But even though the 36-year-old may seem relatively young to open a 90-cover restaurant staffed by 18 people, he’s no novice to the industry.

“I first became interested in hospitality at the age of four, when I watched my brother practising his bartending skills in the garden. At the age of 7, I started collecting miniature bottles of whisky. “I wanted to be the best bartender in the world. I didn’t quite get there , but my passion for the industry grew and I managed to become pretty good.”

Some of the cocktails and food available at Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen in Harrogate.

Jesper has previously been crowned Denmark’s champion flair bartender three times consecutively and was ranked 8th in the world at the 2011 World Championships.

After opening Ofelia, a “wildly popular”  bar for the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen in 2008, he then took his skills around the world, living and working in the Caribbean, Brazil, France, Spain and the UK. He said:

“I love people and I have worked and studied incredibly hard to be able to have the opportunity to travel, work and experience the hospitality industry in many walks of life.”

“After qualifying as a sommelier, I moved to the Cayman Islands, where I was lucky enough to work with an exquisite amount of fine wines.

“I ran the biggest tasting room in the Caribbean, with over 80 wines available by the glass. That was where I honed my skills and learned how to give people an experience they don’t forget.

“We don’t have quite that many here, but we do have a great deal of specially selected fantastic wines at different price levels, and they’re all superb. We also have lots of unique tipples, including an 1899 vintage cognac – only one exists in the world.

“We strive to create a place that makes you feel good, where you are looked after and the service and product you receive are second to none. A lifetime of stories will come to show on your plate, in your drink and from the service you receive.”

As well as being a champion flare bartender, Jesper Callisen is a qualified sommelier and holds wine-tasting evenings.

Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen marks the start of a long-awaited dream for Jesper, who runs it with his wife, Kelly. He said:

“We have been looking for the  perfect place to open something like this for  many years. We didn’t want to stay abroad and wanted to find a place where we call home. My wife, who has family that live in the surrounding area, loves the warmth and friendliness of Yorkshire people, so we came here. And she’s right about the people – they’ve made us feel very welcome.”

Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen will be holding events throughout the year, including wine tastings, cocktail masterclasses, live music, themed dinners and lounge sessions, and soon, Jesper’s will be serving street food tapas for lunch and in the bar in the evenings. This will be in addition to the restaurant offering in the upstairs dining area.

“This restaurant means the world to us, and we are just so lucky to be able to share it with such a wonderful community. Some customers have already become friends.”

“This is absolutely what I want to do,” he says. “It started when I was four years old, and now we’re here.

Find out more:

Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen is open every day except Tuesdays; for opening times, visit the website, www.jespersbarandkitchen.co.uk.

To reserve a table or enquire about booking a private function, call 01423 552844 or book online.

The owner of Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, has said she is “honoured and delighted” the venue has secured a place in the Michelin Guide.

The 16th century stately home has been chosen as one of six of the inspectors’ favourite new additions to appear in the prestigious food bible this month.

Co-owner Clare Oglesby praised the venue’s “extremely talented” executive chef Josh Barnes, who was appointed last September.

Ms Oglesby, who runs the hall with her husband Mark, said:

“Josh is an extremely talented chef, having retained a Michelin star at La Chapelle in London.

“It’s fantastic to get into the Michelin Guide after all the hard work Josh Barnes and his team have put in. It’s also a wonderful achievement to have been chosen as one of the inspectors’ choices this month.”

Mr Barnes was previously head chef at the Galvin brothers’ La Chapelle restaurant in London, where he retained its Michelin star and AA 3 rosette status. He was also awarded for having London’s best vegetarian and vegan tasting menus.

Read more:

• Goldsborough Hall appoints new head chef
• National Open Gardens: Gardens taking part across the Harrogate district this summer

The chef grew up in the open countryside of Lincolnshire and developed a passion for cooking at an early age.

He enjoys foraging for mushrooms, wild herbs and flowers and other ingredients to create inspiring natural dishes.

Ms Oglesby said:

“His modern, French-based dishes are well-balanced and full of bold flavours – and his desserts are a highlight.”

One of Mr Barnes’ dishes at Goldsborough Hall.

Revealing some of their favourite new additions to this year’s Great Britain and Ireland Guide, the inspectors said of Goldsborough Hall:

“This grand, 16th century country house is set in a gloriously remote and peaceful setting and boasts delightful gardens and grounds.

“With a backdrop this stunning, the cooking risks paling in comparison, but it more than manages to live up to expectations.

“The set menu features ingredients from their own organic kitchen garden, mixing classic and modern techniques to showcase the skills and experience of the team.

“The modern, French-based dishes are eye-catching, well-balanced and full of bold flavours; desserts are a highlight.”

Ms Oglesby said she hoped the prestigious accolade would help put Goldsborough Hall on the map as a leading dining destination.

The dining room at Goldsborough Hall is open, including for non-residents, from Wednesday to Sunday, with a six-course tasting menu.

A new restaurant celebrating “exceptional British produce” is set to open at the former Le Bistrot Pierre site in Harrogate this month.

Work is underway to transform the building into Samsons restaurant and bar, dubbed a “vibrant yet elegant dining and drinking destination”.

The spacious unit on Cheltenham Parade has remained empty since July 2020 after Le Bistrot Pierre became one of the first restaurant casualties of the pandemic.

Managing director Mark Morris said:

“I am thrilled to bring the people of Harrogate and the surrounding area a unique drink and dining location in the heart of the town.”

The team behind Samsons includes executive chef Josh Whitehead, who is known for his work with the Harewood Food and Drink Project. He was also a semi-finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals 2016. Andy Castle, who was head chef at the Ox Club, Leeds, is also involved.

No opening date has been announced yet.

Roof garden

It aims to be the first carbon-neutral restaurant in the UK. This includes plans to launch a full roof garden with a wild flower meadow and bee hives next year.

The ‘design-led’ restaurant, which will offer an all-day dining space with plush booth seating, will have space for up to 182 guests across the main restaurant and bar, as well as a snug room for private wine-tasting.

Read more:

• Sneak Peek: Cheese, wine and charcuterie bar opens today in Harrogate
• Owner of Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant opens Pateley Bridge takeaway

Samsons is currently recruiting staff, with a job advertisement for various positions stating:

“Samsons is unique, reflecting its heritage and location, but founded on the core values and principles. Sustainability, provenance, seasonality and traceability shines through.

“We will be striving to be the best restaurant in Harrogate.”

The empty premises were due to be occupied by Tomahawk Steakhouse, however the restaurant chain is now planning to move into Solita Food Hall’s space on Parliament Street, which closed last year after just six months.

The steakhouse had planned to open in January, but with the change of location it is now planning to launch in April.

The site was also formerly Jamie Oliver’s restaurant.