The Olive Branch in Clipsham opens new kitchen after fire
‘A phoenix has risen from the ashes’ at a Rutland pub as chefs return to their kitchen following a devastating fire.
When a fire broke out at The Olive Branch in Clipsham the award-winning team of chefs was left without a kitchen.
Caused by a fault in the tumble dryer in an outbuilding on December 15 last year, the blaze destroyed all the appliances and left the kitchen condemned.
Executive head chef Luke Holland said it felt like he had lost his 'home from home' while owner of the pub Ben Jones described the damage as 'incredible'.
Determined to keep the pub open so not to let customers down, the pair commissioned a kitchen porta-cabin to use while a new kitchen was put in.
It was set up just days after the fire in the pub’s car park.
The kitchen after the fire compared with the kitchen now
Ben, who took over the pub with two friends in 1999, said: “Not only were they cooking in a small kitchen environment but because of the distance it was a challenge to get the food to the dining room.
“From a service point of view they had to become flexible. We had to carry the plates on trays and cover them to carry them outside.”
On the day of the blaze Ben received an automatic call alerting him his fire alarm was going off. When he arrived at the pub just after 5am the flames had spread through the kitchen.
His first thought was how are they going to feed the 70 guests booked in for Boxing Day as they ‘didn’t have it in their hearts’ to let them down.
The new and upgraded kitchen has now been completed and was used by chefs for the first time this week.
Ben, who described the past 11 months as a rollercoaster, said: “It’s like Christmas has come early, everyone is so happy.
“They are now back in the heart of the operations.”
No significant changes had been to the kitchen made since Ben’s arrival 23 years ago so it was always in his plan to replace it - but not in these circumstances.
“We have taken the opportunity to put back what was there using insurance but also to make improvements by funding it ourselves," he said.
The kitchen after the fire compared with the kitchen now
Despite cooking in a porta-cabin the team has continued to win awards, including a Great Taste award.
“A lot of people haven’t realised we aren’t cooking in a proper kitchen and that’s what we want,” said Luke.
Plans for a new kitchen were drawn up by Luke, which include new improvements such as using electric, a new layout and a bespoke cooking suite.
Sticking to The Olive Branch's local ethos, businesses from the Stamford and Rutland area carried out the work including Coppice Homes of Oakham, Steve Rudkin Electrical of Stamford, tradesmen James and Chris Browning and RTK Stamford
Luke, who was a Royal Marine commander for seven years, said: "I have been in a very fortunate position as not many chefs can design their own kitchen - every cloud has a silver lining.
"The phoenix has risen from the ashes."
He added: "It's fantastic to be back where we belong.
"A lot of chefs have kitchens they complain about but being in the portable cabin has challenged us to change the way we do things.
"It also bonded us together."
After settling into the new kitchen, the pub will be releasing a new menu.
