OXFORD'S only Michelin-star restaurant which closed when its acclaimed chef left, has reopened as a neighbourhood bistro and fine food delicatessen.
215 Kitchen & Drinks in Banbury Road, previously called The Oxford Kitchen, was hailed as the finest dining spot in the city when chef-proprietor Paul Welburn won, and retained, a coveted star by judges from the foodie bible.
However, it closed its doors to customers at the end of last year when Mr Welburn, who blamed pandemic lockdowns and the restaurant's name change for contributing to the loss of the Michelin star, left to pursue other ventures.
The newly revamped Summertown restaurant has now reopened, attracting fans of gastronomy.
Owner Steve Quinn said the decision to transform the restaurant into Kitchen Food Company was due to Mr Welburn's departure and the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on hospitality.
He said the business had also struggled to attract and retain staff. He said: "The pandemic seemed to dissuade people from wanting to work in hospitality and particularly in the evenings. We had to come up with something that was more of a daytime offer."
READ MORE: Oxford’s Michelin star chef Paul Welburn on his next move
“We opened a bistro upstairs, doing brunch and lunch five days a week, and then a fine food deli downstairs, opening 7.30am to 5.30pm seven days a week.”
Mr Quinn added that due to the history of the site as an award winning food spot the team wanted to continue to make a lot of the products themselves.
These “nods to the Michelin star past” highlight the team’s “passion” for food and include some dishes offer in the bistro, such as a coronation chicken croquets, and the 100 products available in the deli.
Mr Quinn hopes Kitchen Food Company will see people “get excited about great produce”, with the added element of being able to eat at the bistro and then shop downstairs to take ingredients home.
In January, Mr Welburn explained that he decided to take time for himself after leaving the restaurant.
He said: “It is strange because normally I have the next thing lined up but I just came to the decision that with everything going on in the industry at the moment I felt like a little step back, a breather and to analyse what I want to do next.
“There are so many things I could do but for me it is about finding the right thing.
READ MORE: Oxford Indian restaurant scores place in Michelin Guide
“Obviously I have finished my time at 215 Kitchen & Drinks and now it is about finding what to do next.
“The thing with me is I am never someone who likes to stop – it is very strange.”
Kitchen Food Company offers brunch and lunch from 10am to 2pm Wednesday to Sunday and the deli is open seven days a week 7.30am to 5.30pm.
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