"We’ve been looking for the right premises to start our own restaurant with rooms"

Alex South

Editor

Michelin-recommended restaurant will relocate to Whitchurch’s historic Elizabethan House building Spring 2023 under the new name ‘Docket Restaurant by Stuart Collins’

One of Shropshire’s most successful restaurant’s, Docket No.33, is on the move.

Next spring the Michelin-recommended restaurant will literally cross the road and relocate to one of Whitchurch’s most iconic buildings, the Tudor-fronted Elizabethan House at 16-18 High Street.

Under the name Docket Restaurant by Stuart Collins, the new venture will also see the addition of four luxury appointed bedroom suites - bringing much needed boutique-style tourist accommodation to the town centre.

It also allows owners, Frances and Stuart Collins, to fulfil their hospitality vision of enabling guests dine and stay. While retaining the same 35-cover capacity, as well as the popular tasting menu format and unequivocal welcome and unpretentious vibe, new Docket Restaurant by Stuart Collins will feature an open kitchen, chef’s table and a feature bar (making use of the original bank counter).

A private dining room, seating 10-12 guests, will be housed in the former Bank Manager’s office. Plans have also been submitted to create an intimate Speakeasy style bar in the cellar vault.

As a bonus to the town’s thriving hospitality scene, the team’s existing premises at No.33 High Street will also continue to operate in an exciting new guise, set to launch later next year.

The couple, who have been leading Whitchurch’s food scene since 2017 when they first opened Docket No.33, are excited by the relocation to Elizabethan House.

The historic building, the market town’s former Nat West bank, has been empty for several years until being recently purchased by local entrepreneurs Kassie and Ron Courson.

Commenting on the announcement, Frances Collins said: “We were so excited when Kassie and Ron approached us about this project. Our restaurant business has really developed over the past five years – success helped undoubtedly by talented staff, loyal customers and brilliant local suppliers – but we’ve always wanted to take it to the next level. Lockdown, and our ability to adapt and still see the business flourish made us realise we were ready to expand. We’ve been looking for the right premises to start our own restaurant with rooms for a while, so this opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time. We can’t wait to get started!"

Work is due to start on the new project early 2023, with the relocation completed by late Spring 2023.

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