Sam Lomas to take on former Osip site to launch Briar restaurant

The chef is partnering with husband-and-wife team Claudia and Aled Rees, owners of Number One Bruton, to open Briar restaurant at the Somerset-based venue.

Opening in early September in the Georgian townhouse’s old hardware store, Briar will be a neighbourhood restaurant ‘with its feet planted firmly in the West Country’.

Drawing inspiration from its namesake - a wild bramble or shrub native to England - the menu will celebrate hyper-local produce, foraged ingredients and be dictated by the growing seasons of the kitchen garden.

Briar will serve a daily changing blackboard menu of small plates, snacks, sharing dishes and puddings alongside a ‘thoughtful’ drinks menu.

Lomas is a former River Cottage ‘Rising Star’ ​​and Roux Scholarship finalist and was previously head chef at Devon’s Glebe House. His launch menu will include dishes such as a porridge loaf with local butter; Westcombe gougeres; trout crudo with parsley, whitecurrants and chilli; Berkshire pork chop, swiss chard and cider sauce; grilled leg of hogget, white beans, and agretti; and a Jerusalem artichoke and green onion tart served with a poached egg.

Dishes such as honey tart with poached quince; and blackcurrant leaf ice cream will feature on the desserts menu.

“I’m delighted to be bringing Briar into the beautiful space at Number One - we are flattered by the shoes we’re stepping into, and are looking forward to bringing our affordable and approachable Somerset fare to the table in Bruton,” says Lomas.

“I am fizzing with ideas for Briar and can’t wait to share more details soon - we’re hoping to do regular weekend feasts in our ancient orchard, and host dinners and celebrations with our cherished suppliers.

“There’s a lot of excitement brewing and still to come, and we can’t wait to open our doors and share it with our guests.”

Osip founder Merlin Labron-Johnson announced late last year​​ that he planned to move his restaurant from Number One Bruton to a larger, more rural location.

Osip 2.0 ​​will be located about five minutes’ drive from Bruton in Hardway in a newly-renovated 16th century inn and will feature a garden, living space and bedrooms.