It doesn’t even really exist yet – but the first tenant of Brighton’s newest Lane has been revealed as the city’s popular Gingerman restaurant group.
The chain is to break from its naming convention for the first time by calling the new 50-seat tapas-style café bar the Flint House.
It will be housed in a stand alone, two storey building at the centre of the new Lane, and will feature a roof top terrace with adjacent green wall and views across the Lanes.
The Ginger Chef Ben McKellar said: “Flint House is about casual dining, small plates, simple local ingredients cooked well, and a wide range of quality wines served by the glass.
“The Lanes is somewhere people want to linger and we have the perfect roof top terrace for them to grab a glass of wine, bite to eat and do just that.”
His business partner (and wife) Pamela McKellar said: “We plan to open January 2019 and are very excited to be creating a new concept restaurant for central Brighton.
“Morgan Carn Architects have designed a beautiful flint clad centerpiece to Hanningtons Estate and we are working with Landivar to create an equally first class interior finish, with a full length kitchen bar and outside tables.”
Andrew Foulds, Portfolio Director at Redevco, which is managing the Hanningtons Estate development, said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better restaurant operator to occupy the jewel in the crown of this scheme.
“Gingerman Restaurant Group has four existing local businesses within its portfolio and a strong Brighton following.
“Their philosophy is to offer really good food and great service, within a relaxed setting, which is perfect for the Lanes.”
Ben and Pamela started Gingerman Restaurant Group in 1998, with their flagship restaurant The Gingerman, close to the seafront in Brighton.
The group has since added The Ginger Fox, Ginger Dog and Ginger Pig to its portfolio.
The Ginger Pig has recently been extended to incorporate 11 en-suite double bedrooms, corporate and event space and re-opened Spring 2018 following an extensive refurbishment.
Considered amongst the best in Brighton, The Ginger Pig was ranked by GQ as one of the top 10 pubs in the UK and the Group has also received rave reviews from The Guardian, Telegraph, Grazia and CN Traveller.
Redevco started redeveloping the 1.3 acre site, which includes the former Hanningtons department store, in February 2017.
The masterplan for Hanningtons Estate includes the creation of a new Lane, new entrance to the Lanes from North Street, premium office suites, residential accommodation and the reconfiguration of existing shops to provide exciting new spaces for retailers, restaurants and cafes. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
The café has just submitted a licensing application, with planned opening hours every day from 9am to 11.30pm.
In keeping with the council’s policy for new alcohol licenses in the city centre, it stresses the cafe will be heavily food-led.
The application says: “One of 15 units being developed in the new Hanningtons Lane complex between North Street and Brighton Place and Square. The application is for a new premises licence for a cafe bar.
“Operated by the well known Gingerman Group it will be heavily food led in a Tapas style.”
The consultation period for the licensing application ends on June 12.
Great news. More great places to eat less Chav bars. Hopefully will keep certain types to burgess hill
Simple local ingredients cooked well……doesn’t he mean simple local ingredients…… he’s a chef for goodness sake – doesn’t he imply he cooks well? Although having been to the Ginger Fox perhaps I understand – because that was the blandest food I have ever tasted.
I was disappointed by a lunch with visiting friends at the Norfolk Square area Ginger restaurant a couple of years ago. Thought it very poor. My companions were happy with theirs though. Expensive food should thrill, at least a tiny bit. I
would not look fwd to going there again. There are places I would though – The Urchin, Belfast St where the scallops in sage sauce were quite standout & memorably incredible. 😍😍
I visited this area a while back. It’s really beautiful.