Name: Fini’s Kitchen

Location: Willowbeck Lodge, Lambley Bank, Scotby

Website: www.willowbeck-lodge.com

Tel: 01228 513607

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4.30pm

Owner/chef: Andrew McGrillis

History: Fini’s Kitchen opened in March 2014.
The restaurant occupies the downstairs of Willowbeck Lodge, an award-winning, boutique bed and breakfast with four rooms.
Owners Andrew and Sarah McGrillis took over the business from Andrew’s parents, John and Liz, when they retired.
The name ‘Fini’ comes from Andrew’s grandmother, who sadly passed away the year before the restaurant opened.
The restaurant offers seating for 40 covers, plus a terrace area that provides outdoor seating for an additional 20.

Style of food: Traditional British, combined with Mediterranean-style dishes, all freshly made.
Fini’s offers brunches, lunches and afternoon teas. Locally roasted coffee and speciality teas.
The menu changes regularly and offers a varied choice of home-baked flatbreads, interesting salads, main courses, light bites, sandwiches, cakes and bakes and desserts.
All are freshly prepared and made on site.

Menu sample: The lunch menu isn’t traditional in the fact there aren’t starters and main courses.
Dishes include: lemon and black pepper sole goujons served on a toasted brioche, with crème fraiche tartar and minty pea puree (£7.95); hot roast beef sandwich with balsamic braised red cabbage, Cheddar and horseradish (£8.95); home-smoked chicken flatbread with basil pesto, peach, cherry tomato and watercress (£9.95); poached salmon salad with roasted sweet potato, avocado, home- smoked beetroot, horseradish cream dressing (£11.95); pulled pork flatbread with Stilton cheese, red onion jam, slaw and rocket (£9.95); toad in the hole with pork and cracked black pepper sausages, rosemary, red onion gravy (£8.95); Sicilian fish stew served with fennel bread (£11.00); Craster kippers with poached eggs (£7.95); eggs benedict with smoked salmon or roasted ham (£8.95/£7.95).
Puddings include Eton Mess, bread and butter pudding and cranberry and apple crumble with custard (all at £4.95).

In their own words: “A guest recently described us as ‘hygge’ which is a Danish ethos bringing a feeling of warmth and cosiness to your home.
“The concept is about enriching your life and taking time to appreciate your surroundings and time spent with friends and loved ones.
“Willowbeck Lodge has a strong Scandinavian influence to its architecture, so the compliment was more than fitting with what we’re looking to achieve with the style of the restaurant and accommodation.
“The lodge is sited within mature gardens and willow trees. The restaurant overlooks a pond with ducks, moorhens and a resident kingfisher. The place is serenely peaceful considering its proximity to Carlisle.
“The restaurant is informal and the staff are friendly and cheerful, the menu is varied and offers modern twists on traditional dishes.”