Exclusive Lake District restaurant venture preparing to open its doors
Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan is preparing to open an exclusive restaurant experience in the Lake District next month.
The opening of his Henrock restaurant on October 4, completes the repositioning of Leeu Collection’s Linthwaite House as a luxury country house hotel in the heart of the Lake District.
The refurbished property offers exceptional food, restful interiors, beautifully manicured gardens and a superb art collection.
Since Leeu Collection purchased Linthwaite House in April 2016, the property has undergone an extensive refurbishment, costing in excess of £12m, that has included refreshing all the interiors of the existing early 20th century building – with 30 bedrooms – an extended conservatory and terrace that make the very most of the panoramic views over Lake Windermere, a re-landscaping of the 14-acre gardens, which are now scattered with a large number of impressive sculptures, and the creation of six all-new Lake Suites in the grounds.
The contemporary Lake Suites, which were finished in Spring 2019, are hidden among the trees close to the hotel’s private tarn.
Large and airy, measuring an average size of 66 sq m – more than three times the size of the smallest room category within the main building – they all feature floor-to-ceiling windows, open plan bedroom and living spaces, king-size beds, and ensuite bathrooms with both a bath and walk-in shower.
Two of the suites are interconnected, providing the perfect accommodation for families. It’s a short walk along a tranquil gravel path from the main building to the suites, but should guests prefer they can be transported there in a golf buggy.
The launch of Henrock is the proverbial icing on the cake.
With stunning views over Linthwaite’s immaculately landscaped gardens, Henrock will showcase natural, seasonal ingredients in a relaxed and elegant setting.
The restaurant is named after Hen Rock, a rocky outcrop protruding from Windermere that is often visible from the terrace of Linthwaite House.
Henrock’s kitchen team will be led by head chef Brian Limoges, who joins Rogan from San Francisco after working in renowned restaurants such as Quince, Birdsong and Atelier Crenn.
Working together, they will utilise produce from Simon’s own farm, Our Farm, located less than a 30-minute drive from Linthwaite House.
Linthwaite House
However, in a step away from Simon’s other restaurants – L’Enclume, Roganic, Aulis and Rogan & Co – where the focus is loyally and deeply rooted in British cooking and ingredients, Henrock will lean heavily on influences, techniques and produce discovered on the chefs’ travels around the globe, including Asia where Simon has recently opened Roganic and Aulis in Hong Kong.
The menu will comprise small sharing plates, with signatures set to include ‘Raw aged beef, elderberry and shiso’, ‘Halibut baked in cabbage leaf, bay shrimp and pink pepper’, and ‘Fried apple pie, miso butterscotch and cassia clotted cream’.
Overseeing food and beverage operations at Linthwaite will be Nicolas Perdrier, who, coincidentally, began his career at Linthwaite House before working for Simon as assistant manager at L’Enclume, so he already has a deep understanding of Simon’s farm-to-fork ethos and high standards of hospitality, as well as invaluable local knowledge.
Leeu Collection comprises three five-star boutique properties in South Africa, Leeu Estates, a 17-room country house retreat and boutique winery in the Franschhoek valley, Leeu House, a 12-room hotel in the heart of Franschhoek village, and Le Quartier Français, a romantic 32-room hotel with two independent villas also located in the village, and Linthwaite House. Another Leeu property is due to open in Florence in 2021.