Nottingham diner with focus on wood-ember cooking set for spring arrival

A Nottingham restaurant that will serve dishes cooked on wood embers is to open later this spring.

Oaks, on Bromley Place, will target the student population in the city, as well as young foodies and families in the area.

The 90-cover restaurant is owned and operated by PPHE Hotel Group, but will function as a standalone brand.

There will be an onus on sourcing food within Nottinghamshire, and an open kitchen will mean diners will be able to watch the food being prepared.

A handmade sausage will be a central feature of the menu, along with chicken, steaks and burgers – each flavoured with homemade marinades and sauces.

Custom-built grill

All of the logs used for cooking on the custom-built cast iron grill will be taken from the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which produces the wood as a natural by-product of sustainable coppicing.

Craft ales will be provided by nearby Castle Rock brewery, wine will be served in carafes, and there will be a range of cocktails that PPHE said “will reflect modern classics”.

The bar and restaurant area has been constructed from natural materials, including charred wood and brick, while the tables are hewn oak.

The interiors have been developed by The House With, a design company consisting of former Nottingham Trent University graduates.

Staff wanted

PPHE is in the process of recruiting a 30-strong team, which will include a head chef and restaurant manager, a front of house team and bar and waiting staff.

The group said it was looking for “food fanatics and ale and wine lovers, willing to step up to a new challenge in a restaurant proud of its local heritage."

The PPHE Hotel Group owns a number of hotel brands, including Park Plaza and art’otel. Its portfolio is made up of 38 properties situated in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.