The independent café group was first established in 2005 and has two other sites in in Pelham Street in the city centre of Nottingham and Mansfield Road in Sherwood.
Menu and ethos
The dishes on offer at the new Homemade Pavilion showcase popular options from the menus of the other two sites and the venue aims to use local suppliers and produce and prepares meals fresh to order.
The bistro is open for breakfast and lunch, and the menu features breakfast dishes including Scottish smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and rocket on doorstep toast, and American pancake stacks served with fresh berries and pure maple syrup. At lunchtime there are options such as Homemade’s signature Foxy’s Fish Finger Sandwich, pork schnitzel, Italian style meatballs and a griddled halloumi, roasted beetroot and cous cous salad.
The cafe has a wide selection of hot and cold drinks as well as cakes baked on the premises. Homemade also makes cakes to order including wedding cakes.
Homemade’s creator Jasmin Barlow-Wilkinson said: “Since opening, we’ve actually been much busier than expected. The Forest Recreation Ground really has been brought back to life by the recent restoration work and is being widely used once again.
“Our menu is a ‘best of Homemade’ featuring a selection of some of the most popular dishes from our other two venues. We’re very much catering for everyone and we have a wide selection of traditional board games to keep people entertained and a dog-friendly welcome.”
Apprenticeship aims
The opening of the new café has led to six new fullt-time and part-time jobs, including one apprenticeship for a front-of-house member of staff. Barlow-Wilkinson is a fan of apprenticeships and wants to take her business in that direction after spending some time working with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
She said: “I recently worked with Jamie when he filmed an episode of Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast in Nottingham, focusing on Colwick Cheese. I’ve always admired the way he works and particularly the ways in which he encourages the next generation of food industry workers.
“Ultimately, I would love Homemade Pavilion to be staffed mostly by apprentices, much like Jamie did with his restaurant Fifteen. There are some hugely talented young people here in Nottingham and they fully deserve the opportunity to showcase their skills and expand them even further.”