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Inside Story...

CHEF NICK IVAN
BRIGGS TISDALL-DOWNES
Carriages Native
Restaurant Stoke Bliss
Whitestone, Hereford Nr Tenbury Wells

How an unlikely staff restaurant and We caught up with Chef Ivan Tisdall-
location transformed to a glamorous Downes who, with his business partner
discerning dining destination … Imogen Davis and team, are revitalising
“Following my Professional Chef Diploma a former Michelin Star favourite…
I worked at The Landmark London hotel, “At Native, we honour and closely observe
then 8 years at Michelin star restaurant, the land and seasons to dictate our menus.
The Peat Inn, in Scotland becoming head Through local produce and ingredients we
chef. A further 2 years under Chef Michel can showcase the best flavours and also be
Roux Jnr, running the kitchens at Greywalls sustainable, while reflecting the tremendous
Hotel in Gullane, extended my knowledge wealth of the regional culinary landscape.
of French gastronomy to develop my food
style today. Starting with markets and pop-ups, Native
found its home in Neals Yard, Borough
Carriages Restaurant began as a beautifully Market, Osea Island and most recently
designed place for our internal staff at Mayfair. Ten years on, the team aspire to a
Allpay and to entertain clients. With CEO zero waste kitchen, and Pensons Farm ticks
Tony Killeen’s vision, it opened to the all the boxes to grow and tend to produce
public on Friday and Saturday evenings two picked minutes before serving.
years ago achieving award-winning acclaim.
We offer elevated fine dining without the I want the dining to be fully immersive yet
stuffiness, including a stunning wine room laid back and super tasty. The team naturally
where guests can experience a six course wants to push for a Michelin star and a
tasting menu with matching wine flight, green star, but overall our underlying goal
curated by our Sommelier, with menus is to fix the food chain.
seeking out niche and artisan producers.” Réné Redzepi of Noma shone a light on
June 2024 sees the arrival of The Sidings how to use indigenous British produce,
café and farm shop at Carriages. Two which is very similar to Nordic cuisine.
refurbished 1970s train carriages will stock I’m sure he inspired Native without
and use fine regional produce, nestled even knowing.”
within a bountiful kitchen garden supplying Which one piece of business advice have
the café and Carriages Restaurant with you found most useful: ‘The secret of
herbs, edible flowers and fruits throughout getting ahead is getting started. The secret
the year. of getting started is breaking your complex

Which one piece of hospitality advice overwhelming tasks into small manageable
would you impart? You’ll never be a good tasks and starting on the first one.’
chef if you’re mean. (Mark Twain)
carriageshereford.co.uk nativerestaurant.co.uk
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