Residence in Nantwich has reopened after a £350,000 face-lift doubling its capacity. The bar and restaurant, in the historic town centre, has been extended to create stylish new dining and socialising areas. A former courtyard at the back of the building is now a light and airy eating and drinking space complete with swish cocktail bar and theatre kitchen featuring a wood-fired sourdough pizza oven.
The Grade II listed Georgian mansion, once home to a London Lord Mayor, has been sympathetically refurbished to retain its original features. Pretty pastel shades of pink and green flow throughout the design by Manchester-based Paul Danson Imagineering – the creative brain behind Alchemist, Oust House and other successful Living Ventures concepts. There are cosy booths in which to eat and drink and areas which can be sectioned off for private functions and business meetings.
Already the new-look has proved a huge hit with more than a thousand customers served during the first week of trading. Owner Ben Rafferty says: “Over the years Residence has become a ‘special occasion’ destination. That was great but after 10 years, the look had become a little tired. We wanted to create a ‘home from home’ experience, befitting the mansion’s past but with some really modern twists offering a wow factor. The design needed to be stunning enough for a night out but also welcoming to families. It was a massive feat to have it completed within a few weeks and keep the business running from a marquee on the car-park.”
Residence has notched up many awards over the years as a top dining destination and town centre attraction helping to put Nantwich nightlife on the map. It has trained and employed more than 300 kitchen hands, waiting-on staff, bartenders and baristas and paid out £2.5m in wages. New on the menu are free G&T masterclasses every Thursday offering complimentary tonic mixers and an insight into the making of artisan gins. Sourdough pizzas come straight from the wood-fired oven and are available in all sizes, including baby pizza-ettes. Also going down well is the new weekday happy hour and free Prosecco top ups during Sunday brunch. And back on the last Friday of the month is ‘Rendezvous Residence’ when local business people can entertain their clients with free canapes.
