Jacqueline’s Restaurant & Tearooms, Warminster

9:56am Thursday 3rd July 2008

FRESH fish sourced from the south west is just one of the many new options on the summer menu at Jacqueline's Restaurant and Tearooms in Warminster.

Jacqueline Cawston and Mark Brassington are determined to encourage more custom after introducing longer opening hours and a new-look menu on Monday.

The restaurant, in High Street, Warminster, has included Cornish sardines, sticky pork in apple and cider sauce and crepes with spinach and ricotta cheese, as part of the revised menu.

Mr Brassington, who has also been in the Royal Navy and worked as a lorry driver, is now the restaurant's head chef.

He said: "There is a much more summery feel to the menu. We are going to use locally sourced produce. We both try to be as ecologically minded as possible. We don't like plastic bags or too many food miles.

"I can't see the point of shipping things half way around the world when we grow it on our doorstep."

The restaurant's signature dish is Wiltshire ham from Sandridge Farm, near Melksham, with organic, locally farmed eggs and homemade chips.

Desserts cost £3.95 and include dishes like crème brulee. Starters cost from £2.95.

Mr Brassington described his traditional haddock and chips, cooked in his own beer batter, as one he particularly recommends.

Jacqueline's restaurant is the couple's first restaurant venture after looking for a change of business direction nearly a decade ago.

Miss Cawston, originally from Hertfordshire, was involved in accounts before she and Mr Brassington, originally from London, considered opening a fishing tackle shop and a pub before settling on the restaurant and tearooms.

Mr Brassington said: "We decided we wanted to work for ourselves. We have our ups and we have our downs. We are quite happy doing our jobs and like meeting the variety of people.

"We are very privileged to have made lots of very firm friends over the decade that we have been here."

The restaurant's opening times have been extended and they will now be open from 9.30am to 8pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 9.30am to 5.30pm on Monday.

FACT FILE:

• Jacqueline's Restaurant and Tearooms, High Street, Warminster, BA12 9AF.

  Tel: (01985) 217373

• Children are welcome and Turkey Twizzlers are strictly off the menu'.
• Disabled access is possible but difficult due to the building being Grade II Listed
• Outside seating is available for 20, inside seats 40 people
• Last food orders are at 8pm.
• The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

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