Former head gardener’s villa is opened to diners

Good, honest, simple fare and a lovely cup of tea, but not an eating experience to rival the best restaurants.

Well at Clumber Park in Worksop that is exactly what you will get.

Barkers is a leap away from the traditional National Trust offerings and a brave move for Beth Dawson, general manager of Clumber Park.

Formerly home to generations of head gardeners, the Victorian villa, overlooking Clumber Park’s Walled Kitchen Garden, has been lovingly refurbished to create an indulgent destination restaurant.

Barkers has been named after one of its former residents – head gardener Samuel Barker, who reigned over the garden for 36 years from 1899.

The team at Clumber Park has worked closely with award-winning locally based interior designer and Yorkshire Post columnist Jamie Hempsall to inspire the feeling of stepping into a comfortable, elegant home.

The opening of Barkers last week was the culmination of 12 months hard work.

Beth said: “Barkers has breathed new life into this elegant former head gardener’s house and is a wonderful celebration of how contemporary design can enhance our built heritage. All the work at Barkers has been carried out by local contractors and showcases the best of craftsmanship.”

Beth said the aim was to give people a taste of the opulence and elegance of a fine dining establishment without the price tag to match. Starters cost from £4.95 and mains from £10.95. As well as lunch, people can pop in for a coffee and cake or afternoon tea with a traditional cream tea costing £5.95. There are plans to open in the evenings later in the year, There are two dining rooms on the ground floor, each individually designed, and two meeting rooms and a boardroom upstairs, which can be used for small business conferences or private functions such as special celebrations or small wedding receptions. There is also an outdoor eating area within a private, garden in which herbs and edible flowers are inter-planted within traditional herbaceous borders.

Barkers head chef, Uwe Siwy, has created a seasonal British lunchtime menu with a contemporary twist. Uwe specialises in creating the finest homemade dishes using local ingredients, many picked fresh from the Walled Kitchen Garden.

Originally from Germany, Uwe came to the UK in 1998 to improve his English. He worked in the De Vere Hotel in Swindon before taking the position as the personal chef to the last Lady Anne Bentinck at nearby Welbeck Woodhouse, where he worked for seven years.

He now lives in Haxey, near Doncaster, with his wife and a menagerie of dogs and horses.

Barkers is open every Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm for coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. For further information or to make a booking call 01909 544925.