Marcus Wareing-trained chefs to launch Cumbria gastropub

Jake and Cassie White, former head chef and pastry chef at Marcus Wareing’s two-Michelin-starred London restaurant, will open the Pentonbridge Inn in September.

The duo have previously cooked together under Tom Aikens, but this is the first joint venture where they will both head up the kitchen.

Located in the hamlet of Penton, the inn will feature nine bedrooms, a 45-cover dining room and separate ‘dog friendly’ pub area.

The main restaurant will offer a choice of two tasting menus of five (£50 a head) or seven (£70 a head) courses, served personally by the chefs.

Pudding is promised to be a ‘priority, not an afterthought’, and dishes will be made with local fish, game and produce sourced from a 1.5 acre kitchen garden at the nearby Netherby Hall house.

On Sundays there will be a set menu at £28 per person, with an option of pre-ordering a specific cut of meat.

A more informal twist on classic pub grub, snacks and small plates will be on offer in the separate pub area throughout the day.

“We’ve loved our time at the heart of London’s culinary scene but this opportunity to create something truly special is an opportunity we’ve leapt at,” says Jake.

“For me this is a return to my native north of England and the chance to add something unique to an internationally renowned food destination. Pentonbridge Inn will be a real showcase of the passion we feel for the food of the area and something we’re sure will be enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike.”

The pub previously traded as The Bridge Inn, but is undergoing a major refurbishment with accommodation split across the main building and adjacent barn conversion.

The project has the backing of pub owners Gerald and Margo Smith, who also own nearby Netherby Hall, and Charles Oak of The Quercus Partnership, who has over 30 years’ experience in luxury hospitality.

The Smith’s plan to offer further accommodation at Netherby Hall and run a shuttle bus to the inn for meals.