Following a multi-million pound renovation, the long-awaited opening of the Dial House at the end of September has already improved the visual aspect of Reepham’s Market Place in a phased programme that will eventually include residential houses and B&B rooms.
The restaurant has around 50 covers inside and 40 outside, and offers British-style locally-sourced food, while interiors retail business Lambert & Tribe sells products such as high-end paint, floor tiles, stoves and radiators, as well as quirky objects and antiques, many of which are displayed in the dining areas.
Iain Wilson of Holt-based Byfords, which last year acquired the former Old Brewery House Hotel, said the aim is to create a unique location that fits the building. “As it’s a little quirky it can’t be pigeonholed,” he commented. “With its homely ambience, it’s like popping for coffee at an old friend’s house.
“And we have listened to customers’ comments. For example, in the restaurant we have introduced various specials and continue to work on the décor.”
Under the direction of head chef Ray Maddox, the menu will change monthly and reflect the seasons – the recently introduced autumn menu makes the most of local game and fruits. A series of cooking and baking courses will also be held in the Aga room from the beginning of next year.
Mr Wilson has left the day-to-day management of the business to his staff, including restaurant manager Luke Abendroth and assistant restaurant manager Tom Oakley, adding that so far the Dial House project had been “better than we ever thought it would be. The interiors retail business, Lambert & Tribe has been particularly well received.”
Mr Wilson also operates a number of other businesses in the region, including the restaurants and B&Bs Byfords and the Kings Head in Holt and The Pigs in Edgefield, as well as the cake business Sponge.
“With 19,000 holders of our Passport to Norfolk there is now another great reason for coming to Reepham,” he said. “We've had many repeat customers already.”
Part of a three-phase development, the Dial House is set to eventually include 11 bedrooms inside the main Grade II listed Georgian building, and a complex of 17 houses to the rear of the town-centre site.
The first six houses under Phase I of the residential development are expected for sale by April 2015, including a showhouse.
The hotel bedrooms are planned for completion at the end of 2017, although Mr Wilson hinted that these may be brought forward.
The Dial House restaurant is open from 9 am – 5 pm from Sunday – Thursday, and from 9 am – 11 pm on Friday and Saturday.
