Long-awaited Gary Rhodes restaurant now ready to open in Plymouth

The business, which combines a 70-cover bar and terrace and 105-cover restaurant, will enjoy a VIP opening event next Wednesday, attended by Rhodes himself, before the doors open to the public on Friday.

Delayed​

It had originally been expected that the £1.5m restaurant and 200-capacity events suite would open last summer​ with interest in Christmas 2012 bookings being logged by the team.

However local newspaper reports, confirmed by a spokesperson for the business, claimed a theft of lead and copper from the building had caused considerable and costly damage which had delayed the opening.

Announcing the launch, David Pover, general manager of Rhodes @ The Dome, said: "The building work is nearing completion, the majority of the staff have been recruited and we are really looking forward to working closely with Gary Rhodes and his team to create a genuinely unique range of dining and entertainment facilities."

The announcement comes in the same week that another high profile chef revealed he would be opening an eatery in the South West city - seafood chef Mitch Tonks is planning to open a 200-cover restaurant under the RockFish brand​ in the building next to the National Marine Aquarium.

British tapas​

Described in the press notes as 'the largest new celebrity restaurant and function facility to be opened in the South West this decade', Rhodes @ The Dome is located inside the iconic Plymouth building - the Plymouth Dome - which was opened by The Queen in 1986 and was formerly a museum and visitor attraction.

The main restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and will feature a theatre-style open pass and two private dining rooms. Elsewhere in the building an events suite is being targeted at wedding bookers in particular - the suite includes a private chapel.

Head chef Liam Rutherford previously worked in the celebrity chef's former London restaurant Rhodes W1 - Rhodes himself is not expected to cook day-to-day in the venture.

The menu, with mains averaging £14, includes Parma ham-wrapped roast haddock and potato gnocchi gratin. The bar and terrace meanwhile will offer a lighter and more informal 'British tapas' selection of dishes.

"Our aim is to provide a genuine value for money experience comparable in price to many local dining establishments (and cheaper than many others), but with a superb location, a stylish and chic interior design, the friendliest service imaginable and, most importantly, dishes created by Gary Rhodes," Pover added.