It is just two months to go until the planned launch of chef Alex Bond’s first restaurant Alchemilla and the venue is already beginning to take shape.

Alchemilla will be located at the top of Derby Road in Nottingham, occupying a former Victorian coach-house. The space has not been used for over 100 years, and is currently undergoing extensive renovation. The finished restaurant will seat 40 people with an extra ten at the Chef’s Table.

The builders have carved through the sandstone at the rear of the building to make more space for the restaurant interior, with scope to add exciting new elements to the restaurant later, including an upstairs drinks terrace.

Alex Bond wants to create Nottingham’s next Michelin starred restaurant and he is absolutely focused on crafting a beautiful venue with carefully curated menus full of fresh seasonal produce.

Alex has a wealth of experience gained in some of the country’s best restaurants, including Anthony’s restaurant in Leeds, Restaurant Sat Bains (2 Michelin stars), Auberge du Lac with Phil Thompson (1 star), Turners in Birmingham (1 star) and The Wild Rabbit in Kingham (1 star). Since August 2015 he has also been running his Supper Club and events all over the country.

Alex has now assembled his full team, who join him with the energy and passion to create Nottingham’s best new restaurant Alchemilla.

The team includes talented sous chef Liam Sweeney, who has fine-tuned his culinary skills in restaurants all over the world and sommelier Sam Walker, who has bought a fresh new perspective to the wine list. Grace Bond will be responsible for creating Alchemilla’s signature drinks and juices to complement the food menu. Alex said:

I know modern British is a cliché, but that is what Alchemilla is all about. I don’t believe we should eat as much meat as we do and so I have developed a style of cooking that is plant-based. Vegetables can be just as good as any piece of meat, I’d like to show the depth of flavour that you can achieve when you allow vegetables to take centre stage, with a few supporting ingredients.

The menu will be accompanied by a carefully selected wine list with bottles from all over the globe. Alex explained:

We really want to give our guests something different and to surprise and delight them with the flavour combinations and wine pairings. My sommelier Sam has helped us to source some beautiful wines made from well-known grape varieties, but from exciting lesser-known wine growing regions, such as India and Patagonia.

Alchemilla will open for lunch and dinner. The lunch menu will comprise of a selection of small plates as well as a choice of three tasting menus, two tasting menus will be available at dinner time also.

Alongside designing the menus, building relationships with local producers and recruiting a full team of staff, Alex is involved in every aspect of the restaurant creation from working closely with the carpenters on the design of the bespoke walnut internal doors, to the gardeners on the living wall which will frame the entrance.

A plant-based menu, and wine from far flung isles of India and Patagonia sound innovative and intriguing. This is one restaurant opening I am looking forward to. Alex and Team Alchemilla – see you very soon.