Newly weds open their first restaurant in Farndon
A newly married couple have returned to their Cheshire roots to open their first restaurant together.
Anna and Felix Roseblade-Shore flew back from New Zealand after spotting the potential to take on the lease of an empty building on the Barnston Estate in Farndon.
As well as planning their wedding in a church on a beach near Harlech in Wales, they have spent the last few months carefully transforming the former Little Churtons/Farmhouse Café and opened Restaurant 209 just days ago.
Anna, who grew up in Farndon and went to the local primary school, first met Felix when they were both at Bishop Heber High School in Malpas.
She said: “We got together in 2018 and since then have lived all over the world from Liverpool and Chester to New Zealand. We spent 18 months living in New Zealand and while Felix worked as a chef I was the general manager for a company.
“It’s always been our dream to open our own place and be our own bosses. When we first spotted that the lease was available on this building we were living on the other side of the world. So we asked my dad if he could pop in and have a first look for us.
“It was great to come back home, tie the knot and settle back in Farndon.
“Felix and I live on the high street, just a few doors down from the restaurant, and we want our restaurant to be a key part of the community.
“We’re passionate about using local ingredients and suppliers and have been busy sourcing lots of products. We’re using Rachel and Pete Ravencroft’s Aberdeen Angus Beef and Heritage Breed Pork from Malpas.
“The physiotherapist next door recommended a local egg supplier to us and we’ve got venison from the Grosvenor Estate.
“Independent coffee roasters Kickback Coffee in Pott Shrigley are supplying us with their delicious coffee and we’ll also be featuring local guest coffees. We’re keen to hear from other local suppliers who would like to work with us too.
“As we grow, we will be looking for local people to join the team. Felix started working in a pub when he was 14 with absolutely no experience and he knows how important it is just to be given an opportunity. We’d like to give similar chances to other young people who are looking to push themselves and learn about the industry.”
Felix has worked as a chef around the world in some of the best food venues in Sweden, Denmark and Auckland.
The couple got engaged at The Ritz in room 209, which has inspired the name of their restaurant.
“We spent ages coming up with different names for the business,” laughs Anna. “And then my auntie said to us, why not Restaurant 209 as it holds so many happy memories for us both.
“Lots of people ask us about the name, thinking it’s the number of the building or something, and they love it when we tell them the story behind it.”
Felix, 31, who grew up in Whitchurch, said: “It’s really exciting to open our own place and we’ve been so busy since we launched. Anna and I are a great team and we love working together. When I was 21 I made it my mission to have my own restaurant by then time I was 30. I did it at 31, so that wasn’t bad!
“We’re open seven days a week for brunch, lunch and takeaways and then open in the evenings from Wednesday to Saturday.
“One of Anna’s mum’s best friends is going to make her amazing carrot cake for us.
“We want to cater for all sorts of ages in the village because we’re here to stay and we love Farndon. We’re already been asked if people can book in for Christmas dinner!”
Estate Manager Ed Barnston said: “We’re delighted to welcome Anna and Felix to Top Farm in Farndon and wish them both every success in their exciting venture together.”
