There was dismay at the announcement of three closures – but the town is bouncing back
Quayside at Kingsbridge(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A South Hams town reeling from the closure of three award-winning restaurants in a week has been boosted by a new arrival. The restaurant scene in Kingsbridge suffered a triple blow when three eateries confirmed they were turning out the lights.
Wild Artichokes had a stellar reputation among foodies, regularly featuring in the Good Food Guide and creating a unique dinner party vibe at its industrial warehouse venue. Owners Sam Miller and Jane Baxter said it was time for a change and they were looking for someone to take over the reins.
Now they have announced a ‘new chapter’ and the arrival of a top chef who will bring his own ideas and business to the venue. Paul Hegley will open Verse restaurant serving seasonal British and Mediterranean-inspired food ‘in a relaxed, thoughtful setting’.
Paul said: “We have recognised the great work Sam and Jane have achieved with Wild Artichokes but feel we wouldn’t be able to recreate its current form as Sam and Jane were such a force and had a style that was theirs and personal to them, they and their team were Wild Artichokes. We want to continue on with their hospitality model but with our own style and feel that is personal to us.
“Every chef has their own style and I can’t wait to impart my personality and flair on the business and give it a fresh look and feel whilst retaining the heartbeat that was WA.
“Our business is a reflection of everything I love: food, music, creativity, and bringing people together. It’s a space that feels welcoming and unpretentious, offering thoughtful cooking in a relaxed setting — a place to enjoy great food, good company, and memorable moments.”
Sam and Jane posted: “We are delighted to introduce the new custodians of Wild Artichokes: local residents Paul and Hayley Hegley. Paul brings over 20 years of experience as a chef, most recently as Executive Head Chef at Gara Rock, while Hayley brings to the table her experience of running her own successful business.
“Paul will introduce his own style of food and dining to WAHQ and will share more on this soon. We can’t wait to see what he has in store!
“We hope you’ll extend the same wonderful support to Paul & Hayley as you have shown us over the years. We’ll certainly be cheering them on from the sidelines and hope they have as much fun as we’ve had!
“With one last thank you, much love and a big hug from us.”
It was announced last week that two other award-winning Kingsbridge eateries, The Old Bakery and The Old Warehouse had shut their doors and were actively looking for investors to take on some or all of the businesses.
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Dining and Cooking