The Black Swan is a reflection of everyone that works here and the team work together on everything that we do. We design and build most things ourselves; whether it’s growing our own food, developing our own cocktails, interior design, graphics, menus, inside and out, whatever. It’s us.
Designed and made in Oldstead.
We most recently decided to redesign our restaurant, adding a front kitchen in January of this year, which really opens the restaurant up, allowing customers to watch the chefs at work and also allows the chefs to seamlessly serve the food they’ve prepared, and tell the customers the full story behind each dish.
This is something that’s really important to us, as so much work goes on ‘behind the scenes’ to produce the dishes we serve. As Sean, one of our Chef de parties talks about in his blog it makes the job so much more rewarding; serving amazing food, with our own produce and being able to talk so easily and emotively about everything that’s on the plate directly to the customer.
We’ve been wanting to modernise the restaurant decor for a while now, and with our 10th Anniversary back in August 2016, we decided it was the perfect time to create a new fresher feel. We are lucky to have so many creative minds working here …
Alan joined The Black Swan team almost 2 years ago. He knows The Bankses well, having gone to school with both James and Tommy. Alan’s background began in furniture design, but after working in numerous restaurants over the years, he decided that hospitality is actually where he wanted to be. When he was given the opportunity to work at The Black Swan he took it quick sharp, and really enjoyed what we do here. He got very involved with the garden, and is now one of our produce gardeners. BUT, when it came to redesigning our restaurant Alan who took the lead with the design and research needed to transform our restaurant. Along with TB, (Tom Banks – Father to Tommy and James) he came up with some fantastic ideas…
So through in-depth research and an inspirational collage or two, Alan and TB found the perfect chairs for the restaurant. Simple, expertly made and sourced just 8 miles away in Thirsk. The Neva chair is a 2015 Interior Innovation Award winner. It’s designed by Ruder Novak-Milulic and Marija Ruzic, based in Zagreb , who are part of a group of young Croatian designers.
Chairs ordered; the transformation could begin!
But when it came to tables, even after weeks of looking they couldn’t find anything that they felt fitted in with The Black Swan. So, it was decided that, in the true Black Swan style, we would make them ourselves with the help of Andy and Ollie, the handymen of The Black Swan.
Design Ideas:
And making:
Inspiration was taken from organic shapes with the idea of bringing the stunning Yorkshire landscape into our dining experience. Every table is unique; with interwoven metal legs representing sapling trees in tangled undergrowth; the result of many hours of bending and welding in the farm workshop.
The final product:
Come visit and see the new restaurant-
Book a table here: www.blackswanoldstead.co.uk
More information on our Treske chairs can be found here:
www.treske.co.uk/home-furniture/item/artisan-neva-chair
I absolutely love the Black Swan, apart from the amazing food (we are vegetarian so they produced a special menu for us) the ambience was quite something. Their fabulous staff gave us some background on the gardens etc, if you get the chance, this is the place to go.
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Thank you for such kind words Elizabeth! We hope to welcome you again in the future 🙂
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We have enjoyed visiting the Black Swan on numerous occasions over the years, from the time before the rooms were added, a treat one New Year’s Eve, a visit a month ago, and again with friends from Peckham in London last Thursday where we were looked after so well by Alan, each time very special. We and our London friends have followed the fantastic journey of Tommy on the Great British Menu which makes us all so proud to have such an amazing self taught talent in North Yorkshire.
We have a long established family business in Northallerton known as Barkers, we have a store on the High Street and a Home store on the edge of town and we recently hosted a demonstration by the chef Ken Hom, this was a great success with 140 people coming to watch him. I hope you don’t feel I am being too forward but we would be thrilled if Tommy could be persuaded to put in an appearance in our store creating one of his dishes?
If you think this could be possible I would be more than happy to meet and discuss it further.
My mobile is 07976 820161 and land line 01609 780770.
Best Wishes and Congratulations,
Charles Barker.
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Hello Mr Barker,
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. Thank you for getting in touch, and we of course know all about Barkers!
Unfortunately as Tommy is extremely busy filming at the moment he is unable to commit to any live demos or any appearances. He is honoured to have been asked though and is hoping that his schedule may settle down a little next year. If this is the case he will of course get in touch with you.
Thank you again for getting in touch, and we hope to welcome you back to The Black Swan again soon!
Kindest regards,
Rachel
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Thanks Rachel, I fully understand, we will be back and wish Tommy and the team every success, please pass on our congratulations, Charles Barker.
Barkers Ltd High Street, Northallerton, DL7 8LP
Also at Barkers HOME, Yafforth Road, Northallerton, DL7 8UB
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