www.lux-review.com Page 17 LUX 2021 Food & Drink Awards Located in the busy seaside town of Bude, Potters is owned and run by chef, Oly Clarke and his wife, Nikki, showcasing fresh, seasonal and carefully sourced local produce. Its doors open early evening to a refined and relaxing dining experience, serving exceptional food and drinks, delivering a unique experience, and going that extra mile to put smiles on faces. Potters Bude Ltd Best Fine Dining Restaurant 2021Cornwall & LUXlife Culinary Excellence Award 2021: Afternoon Tea Aug21136 In January 2020, Oly and Nikki Clarke made the decision to follow their dream to open Potters, but just two months later, the pandemic hit. After careful consideration, they decided to forge ahead and they collected the keys to the premises in June 2020. Previously a café, they, along with the help of local tradesmen and trade-related businesses, spent nearly two months renovating the space and kitchen to reflect their vision. In late July 2020, they opened a contemporary, relaxed and sophisticated restaurant and drinks lounge for Bude to be proud of. During the process of bringing their dream to life, Oly and Nikki worked closely with a professional graphic designer who helped to tell their story, to make Potters stand out, and to communicate what it stands for. A simple, pared-back identity was created that puts the food at the front and centre. This simple, understated visual aesthetic extends across the Potters premises, menus and website. Menus and bills are presented on hand-crafted FSC certified wooden boards, with matching materials used to build its unique, handmade cocktail bar. It is a look that Oly and Nikki are really proud of, and it’s something that customers regularly comment on. Meanwhile, due to the restrictions, Potters was only allowed to remain fully open for approximately six months from its opening. Not disheartened and remaining committed to serving the very best produce it can get its hands on, Potters in January 2021 temporarily adapted to a pop-up fish and chip shop. Named Potters Fish ‘N’ Things, it proved a success, and saw a busy 12 weeks during what was a trying time for the hospitality industry. Back open to full capacity as a restaurant in May this year, Potters has remained that way with a consistent, fully booked evening service averaging 40 covers a night. To accommodate for the demand, it increased its service hours from 6pm-9pm to 5pm-9.30pm and opens an extra evening each week. Despite this increased output, Oly and Nikki are confident that Potters’ value and service is only ever increasing in quality. Guests to Potters can expect a relaxed fine dining experience with walls adorned with local art and photography and a menu that all ages can enjoy. It runs a seasonal a la carte menu, as well as a popular ‘Taste of Cornwall’ menu which offers everyone the opportunity to try Oly and Nikki’s tasty picks at a value-conscious price. Potters prides itself on using only the very best local and seasonal produce it can find. It is committed to supporting local independent business wherever possible, and it is building strong, sustainable relationships with its suppliers in the process, while doing all it can to promote their businesses across its social media channels. Alongside this, on its menus, it displays a map of Cornwall which lists the names and locations of many of its suppliers from across the county. Potters’ hard work isn’t going unnoticed. Michelin visited the restaurant earlier in the year, and as a result, it was delighted to hear that it’ll feature in the 2021/22 guide. And to top off what’s been a great year so far, Potters is currently the number two restaurant on TripAdvisor in Bude, and it has even welcomed Sir Tom Jones to dine on one occasion this summer – What a true gent! Going forward, Oly and Nikki are planning to continue to develop and deliver their vision for Potters – They feel like they are only just getting going! They will maintain their commitment to keeping things local, to looking after their staff, to sustainability, and to quality and service. And following the success of Potters Fish ‘N’ Things, Oly and Nikki are on the hunt for the perfect location to open a dedicated fish and chip shop – When they find the right place and they are feeling confident they can uphold the standard at Potters, they’ll take the plunge! Also, Potters has supported a number of local charities and fundraisers since opening, and this is something Oly and Nikki plan to put more time and effort towards in the future. For example, they are hosting an evening beginning of 2022, in support of Jay’s Aim, a local Bude-based charity with the goal of reducing the rate of sudden cardiac death among young people in the Southwest of England. Potters will keep looking for new and engaging ways to give back to its community. Sep21693 Company: Potters Bude Ltd Email: [email protected] Website: www.pottersbude.co.uk
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