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James Close, will open a brand-new summer residency at Rockliffe Hall from 13th June 2024. TERRA will welcome guests with an ingredient-led menu and relaxed experience for dinner that brings the best of land and sea, from near and far.
Close, former Chef Patron of 2 Michelin Star Raby Hunt joined Rockliffe Hall as Culinary Director in February 2024 to identify opportunities to strengthen the dining experiences at the 5-star hotel.
This residency brings his passion, creativity, and skills to diners in an approachable way and is part of developing several varied culinary experiences at the resort. Close will also open a brand-new restaurant in 2025 that will take diners on a unique journey inspired by global gastronomy.
At TERRA, Close will source the best ingredients from across the UK and beyond to create dishes rooted in his experience, and with a focus on intentional simplicity. The menu will be split into sections relating to size, offering guests the freedom to create their own dining story, which they can repeat or reinvent with each visit.
Guests will find plates including, Carabineros simply grilled over charcoal with garlic, wine, chilli, parsley enriched by the juice from the heads and served with a fresh-baked baguette, or a signature sushi selection combining Kabayaki eel, foie gras, purple shiso and wasabi. There will also be dishes for two such as James’ take on Bouillabaisse with lobster, scallops and seabass, or 65 day aged sirloin cooked on the bone over charcoal with confit red peppers.
Close, who has a personal passion for wine, wants the residency to offer a more relaxed approach in this area too. Contemporary wines from around the world as well as some established old-world favourites will be available by the glass, allowing guests to pick and enjoy different glasses as they dine. A new wine table will take a central position in the restaurant, chilling and displaying bottles to inspire guests’ choice.
The residency will find its home in a first-floor space at the hotel, which has a balcony for drinks and views over the 375-acre estate and 18-hole golf course. The bright and airy 35 cover restaurant combines a palette of bright blues and warm neutral tones, with simple tableware, and newly commissioned local art, to make the space feel fresh and welcoming.
Close said: “At Terra, we are cooking food that focuses on great ingredients and great flavours, both from near and far. It’s a relaxed experience where guests can order a selection of plates from different sections of the menu, to share or not, and enjoy with a few glasses of interesting wine.”
Shauna Robb, General Manager, Rockliffe Hall added: “We are excited to welcome TERRA to the hotel to offer guests and locals a new relaxed dining experience that brings together James’ skills and love for high quality ingredients. It also marks the first phase in developing the offering at Rockliffe Hall as part of our journey to become a world-class luxury destination.”
Close was the first chef in the North East to be awarded two Michelin stars, making his restaurant one of just 20 two Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK and the only two-star restaurant in the North East. It was also placed fourth in The Good Food Guide’s Top 20 Most Exciting UK Restaurants of 2022.
Bookings for TERRA can be made for Wednesday – Saturday from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.
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