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28 Market Place confirms opening date

Published 29 November 2019

Restaurant, bakery and wine shop 28 Market Place has announced it will be opening on 3 January 2020. Located in the small market town of Somerton in Somerset, husband and wife Ben and Vanessa Crofton, alongside Great British Menu finalist Dan Fletcher, are behind the opening.

Housed in a collection of 17th and 18th century buildings, 28 Market Place is the first solo venture from former Soho Farmhouse and Babington House director Ben and his wife Vanessa. They have worked alongside local architects to ensure the heritage of the space is maintained, whilst introducing a contemporary aesthetic.

The 26-cover restaurant, bakery and wine shop will seek to celebrate the best of West Country and British produce with a modern menu. The bakery will offer house-made artisan bread, pastries and filled sourdough doughnuts made daily. The wine shop will stock up to 100 wines not found on the main wine list, all of which can be enjoyed in the restaurant or to take away.

Former Michelin-starred chef of The Square in Mayfair and Fenchurch at Sky Garden, Dan Fletcher will work alongside senior sous chef Matt Heeley to serve seasonally changing dishes. Dishes from their opening menu include fallow deer with beetroot, red cabbage and preserved black currants, as well as pollock with wood-fired leeks, St Austell bay mussels and sea vegetables. Vegetarian options include Stuffed Harlequin squash, hen of the woods mushroom and confit egg yolk. On Sundays, the kitchen will serve sharing roasts. The prices start at £8 for starters, £22 for mains and £8 for desserts.

Fletcher is working with local suppliers to create the menu, such as Ivy House dairy farm for the butter and dairy products, and Plotgate farm just 1.4 miles from Somerton for the vegetables.

Commenting on the opening, Ben Crofton said ‘opening our own concept has been a dream of mine and Vanessa’s ever since we met, and so when we found 28 Market Place we knew it was the perfect space for us. It really has been a labour of love bringing the old buildings back to life and establishing a team we’re proud of, so now can’t wait to open the doors in January. We hope it becomes a place where you can have a quick coffee or pastry from the bakery in the morning, catch up over a few glasses of wine or spend an evening with family and friends in the restaurant. We’re excited to have Dan on board as his food and cooking style perfectly reflects what we want to achieve with 28 Market Place.’

28 Market place will open on 3 January 2020 at 28 Market Place, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7NB. Reservations are now open via [email protected] or by calling 01458 333 444

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