Great British Menu chef Harriet Mansell to launch debut restaurant in Lyme Regis, Robin Wylde

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor

Great British Menu 2020 chef Harriet Mansell is set to open the first permanent site for her restaurant concept, Robin Wylde.

Originally thought up by the chef in 2019, Robin Wylde existed as a Supper Club until January of this year at ‘The Pop Up Kitchen’ in Lyme Regis, at which point the chef already had her heart set on a permanent site.

The former history and politics student, who honed her culinary skills at the Tante Marie Culinary Academy in Woking, before staging in Michelin-starred restaurants including Noma, Dinner by Heston, and Hedone and working on super-yaghts, represented the South West in this year's run of BBC Two's Great British Menu.

Natural wines and wild foods

According to the chef's website, the Lyme Regis restaurant will offer a themed tasting menu reflecting the changes in season, using local food and drink suppliers "to showcase the best the west country has to offer," as well as local and natural wines, beers and ciders.

Coastal and hedgerow wild foods will feature prominently, so as, it says, to view "our privileged location as a veritable epicentre of exciting ingredients."

The menu, it continues, will be "influenced by folklore and a touch of intrigue" adding that "we managed to shoehorn the 'hairy hands of Dartmoor' into our third menu, and boy did it go down well."

Aiming for a launch date in mid-October, the chef said: "I am quite simply buzzing, brimming with gratitude to so many people for this opportunity to have a permanent station in Lyme Regis.

"I don’t even have the words yet to express the extent of my happiness and appreciation. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Many exciting celebrations to come, and of course lots of work to get open."

As a footnote, the chef said that they are currently recruiting front of house staff and a kitchen assistant, "so please do get in touch if you fancy being a part of this from the opening onward... lots of training and things to learn and we would love to have you on board from the beginning - email: [email protected]"

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