The Cavendish Hotel reopens The Garden Room amid £1.1m investment

The Garden Room restaurant has officially reopened its doors at The Cavendish Hotel in Baslow following a £1.1m investment with a brand new menu from executive chef Adam Harper. Sustainability has been at the heart of the refurbishment with the instalment of a fully electric kitchen and air source heat pumps, helping to reduce the operation’s impact on the environment whilst providing a better, cooler working environment for the chef team. Harper brings his food sustainability ethos to the fore when curating his menus, using Chatsworth beef nose-to-tail, and forging strong relationships with local suppliers who work with him to create the best produce. His vision is reflected in a pared-back menu that celebrates some of the Peak District’s best-known producers, including smoked Ladybower trout, lamb, venison and beef from local farms, and plant-based dishes made from vegetables grown in the Chatsworth Kitchen Garden. With a passion for developing grassroots talent, Harper has welcomed two recent graduates of the Devonshire Hospitality Academy, Ross Sparks and Emma Jones. Both will join his chef team with permanent roles in The Cavendish Hotel kitchen, which serves the hotel’s 3AA Rosette restaurant, The Gallery, alongside The Garden Room restaurant. Harper said: “A lot of hard work has gone into the development of the new kitchen and seasonal menu at The Garden Room to make sure we are doing justice to our outstanding location whilst leaving as little mark on the surrounding environment as possible. “We’re incredibly proud to be offering the very best produce all year round whilst supporting local producers and continuing to invest in the next generation of grass roots talent.” Following an initial pilot developed in 2017, the chef team will continue to work a four-day working week with no change to their rate of pay in a bid to achieve a sustainable work-life balance rarely seen within the industry. The restaurant’s new look, which includes the addition of a large outdoor dining terrace extending capacity to 80, is the first of several planned refurbishments to The Cavendish Hotel, which will see extensive redesigns to the hotel’s reception, lounge area, Gallery restaurant and 28 bedrooms. The Garden Room has been designed in partnership with renowned interior designer Nicola Harding and overseen by Lady Burlington. Lady Burlington said: “It’s been great to see The Garden Room take shape over the past four months and it promises to be a great place to lunch or enjoy drinks and dinner as summer finally approaches. With lots of natural light and views across the estate, it provides the perfect space to bring people together whilst showcasing products and produce that are from the local area.”