Barnstaple Town Centre :: Business :: The Old Custom House

Contact: 9 The Strand, Barnstaple North Devon EX31 1EU Phone: 01271 370123 Email: oldcustomhouse@tawview.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chef James Duckett took over ownership of the Old Custom House restaurant in August 2008 and has drawn on his wealth of experience in some of the finest restaurants in London and internationally to elevate the cuisine to new heights.
Occupying a tastefully renovated 17th Century building located on Barnstaple’s newly revamped Strand; the restaurant offers an inexpensive tapas style lunch menu while an à la carte dinner menu provides an authentic fine dining experience in relaxed and informal surroundings.

Using only fresh local produce wherever this is possible all of his dishes are prepared on the premises, including bread, pasta and ice cream. James’s menus change daily to reflect availability and quality of local supplies and while the atmosphere is informal, his dishes are prepared with all of the techniques and quality of produce that you would expect in a top London restaurant – and at a fraction of the cost!

Latest News: James heads up top team
James is joined on Wednesday 18th March by Stefano De Raimondo as his new restaurant manager. Stefano come to us from Guernsey where, until recently he had been restaurant manager and sommelier at the Island’s only Michelin starred restaurant. Born and raised in Sardinia, Stefano has extensive front of house experience at some prestigious restaurants in Italy, Germany as well as Guernsey. To add to the international flavour of the Restaurant team, James and Jess are joined in the kitchen by third chef, Raul Galache Hernández who has come to Barnstaple from Spain.

Mothers’ Day lunch, Sunday 22nd March
Fully booked

Easter Sunday lunch, 12th April
As with Mothers’ Day, we’ll be opening the restaurant on this Sunday for lunch. Choose two or three courses complete with appetisers and coffee from a special three course menu.

Menu
Fish soup and panko crusted scallop with buttered leeks and lemon oil
Poached egg Florentine
Crispy confit duck leg on a warm watercress and potato salad with a balsamic dressing
Potted north Devon crab with toasted homemade bread and lime & herb mayonnaise

Mushroom and spinach risotto with truffle oil and parmesan
Roast wild north Devon sea bass on a ragout of mussels, tomatoes and herbs and saffron spaghetti
Roast loin of West Country pork with parsnip and apple purée, braised cabbage, scrumpy sauce and sage
Navarin of West Country lamb with mashed potato and buttered vegetables.

Bitter sweet chocolate tart with raspberries
Poached rhubarb with lime parfait
Selection of homemade ice creams and sorbets
Selection of local and international cheeses with quince paste and lavosh

My Easter Sunday special lunch is priced at £23.00 for two courses and £27.00 for three, to include appetisers and coffee with Florentine afterwards. Childrens’ meals are £13.00 for two courses and £16.00 for three to include their choice of soft drinks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attention all you Times readers
We are featured as one of the nation-wide list of restaurants for launch in the Times on Saturday 3rd January. We’re offering readers who collect vouchers from these papers the opportunity of enjoying a selection from our standard dinner menu at just £15.00 for two courses and £19.00 for three. Our offer is for meals pre-booked for any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evenings from Monday 19th January – Wednesday 29th April (excluding Easter Monday 13th April), subject to availability. There’s a special lunchtime offer available too.

Early week discounts
Even if you’re not a Times reader, you can still enjoy an up to £4.00 reduction on our normal dinner price when eating with us on a Monday – Wednesday evening.

Wine Tastings
Following sell-out tasting dinners for French, Spanish and, most recently German wines we have something different planned for Tuesday 4th June when we play host to Sami Ghosn who with his brother Ramzi are the second generation of the family to run the Massaya estate in the Bekaa valley in the Lebanon. Sami comes to Barnstaple courtesy of Christopher Piper wines and he’ll be introducing six or seven of his wines all matched to Lebanese, middle eastern and Mediterranean food, lovingly prepared by James and his team in the Old Custom House kitchen. Sami’s 2005 classic red is already a firm favourite with diners at the Restaurant so we can expect to be delighted by Sami’s wider offering. The seven course tasting dinner, to include all wines is £48.00 per head. Call now to reserve your places.

And later in the year, on Wednesday 18th November, we’ll be playing host to yet another celebrated winemaker. This time it is Australian David Baverstock who, since 1992 as chief winemaker has guided the fortunes of the now world renowned Herdade do Esporao estate in northern Portugal. Make a note in your diary now.

The Old Custom House During the summer months the Old Custom House will offer al fresco dining on the Strand pavement area and in a private courtyard to the rear of the building. Private functions are welcome in the main restaurant (34), in the up stairs, panelled dining room (20) or in the rear courtyard (25).

Lunch 12.15 – 14.30, Tuesday to Saturday
Dinner 19.00 – last orders 22.30, Monday to Saturday

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact: 9 The Strand, Barnstaple North Devon EX31 1EU Phone: 01271 370123 Email: oldcustomhouse@tawview.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------