BUSINESS is booming at a Lymington cafe and deli recently taken over by husband-and-wife team Karl and Esther-Kate Cheshire – so much so that tapas nights have now been launched at the venue.
After transforming The Larder in Earley Court and creating an atmospheric heated and covered courtyard, the couple have now introduced late night dining on Thursdays and Fridays.
“If people don’t want to necessarily go to a pub or restaurant for a meal we offer that perfect in-between with a really laid-back, friendly vibe,” said Esther-Kate.
Karl and Esther-Kate Chester
“Come the evening, the wine glasses come out, the music goes on, the courtyard is lit up and we switch to table service – it’s a real change to what we do in the day and people so far are really loving it.”
The pair moved with their two children to the New Forest last October from Hartley Whitney in north Hampshire after selling their telecoms company, and Karl, who according to his wife is “obsessed” with food, had a hankering to work in hospitality.
Karl said: “We had been to The Larder for lunch just after moving down and loved the place.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found out the business was for sale. We didn’t even have to think about it – we jumped at the chance to buy the business.
“As well as a complete refurb, we’ve launched the deli so if our customers really enjoy a dish they can buy most of the ingredients that went into making it right here.
“We’ve got some really great quality Spanish meats and olive oils, a selection of hand-picked Lyburn cheeses and the Tomato Stall sauces and condiments, just to name a few.”
The evening tapas menu features fried maroma almonds with rosemary, spider crab and saffron croquettes, Spanish omelette, and jamon iberico on toasted sourdough served with mandarin oil. There are also sharing platters and Spanish stews served with warm baguettes.
Karl added: “Taking on this place has been a real baptism of fire and way harder than I ever thought it would be, but I’ve loved every minute: from getting to know our lovely customers to creating good, fresh food and selecting deli products that sell.
The Larder has a heated and covered courtyard
“We cook everything from scratch here. I make the sausage rolls and scotch eggs using meat from Sway Butchers. I make all my own hummus and pesto, and I do an iconic bacon sandwich using sourdough and red onion marmalade that customers can’t get enough of.
“Our soups are also very popular – I love experimenting by adding our infused oils and Nature Kitchen herbs, all grown in Cornwall. The latest were tomato and caramelised Spanish red pepper and French onion, which went down a treat.
“It’s a labor of love for me and a passion.”
Karl continued: “It’s extremely important to me that everyone feels welcome here, so if parents are having a hard time with the kids I’ll go over with some treats and crack a few jokes to diffuse the situation.
Karl is obsessed with food
“For the kids menu, I fashion the food into faces just to give them a bit of a laugh – kids are brilliant and I want them to come here.
“If people want me to adapt our dishes I’ll try my hardest to accommodate that, provided it doesn’t impact other customers. I just want to create a great, friendly atmosphere for our customers, and bring an energy and a buzz that keeps them wanting to come back.
“The feedback has been incredible, and people have been amazed at how we’ve turned this pace around since we’ve been here. Customers are now having to queue to get a table.”
Having made a success of The Larder, Karl and Esther-Kate plan on taking on one or two other eateries in the area in the not-so-distant future.
The Larder opens between 9am and 4pm, and on Thursdays and Fridays is open in the evening between 6pm and 9pm.
To book a table, which is advisable on tapas nights, call 01590 619606.
Search for TheLarder Lymington on Facebook and Instagram.
