Enjoy North Norfolk Making the most of North Norfolk
The Grove, owned and run by the Graveling family since 1936, only opened its doors to the public for lunch and dinner under two years ago. Now, under Head Chef Charlie Hodson, The Grove has been awarded a straight two AA rosettes for culinary excellence.
“We are absolutely stunned and delighted with the news,” said owner Richard Graveling. “Although Charlie and his team produce truly expectional food it’s well known that to get one rosette is extremely difficult. To be given two straight off the bat is of course more than we had hoped for and a massive reward for our superb team here.”
“I’m the first to admit that opening a restaurant in an already well-established business was a big gamble, and, like any new venture, you make mistakes and go through some tough periods. But we have never lost sight of the potential that we have here at the Grove and since Charlie has been with us our standards and stability have increased to this point – though we still have a long way to go to get to where we eventually want to be!”
Only 10% of UK restaurants achieve a rosette, and the double-rosette description mentions “excellent restaurants with high standards and consistency”… “great precision apparent in the cooking and obvious attention to the selection of quality ingredients.”
“It’s a proud day for me and the team,” said Mr. Hodson, who trained under Gordon Ramsey in his early years. “We are only small but we punch above our weight and we pride ourselves on great produce from John and Ann Graveling’s garden and lots and lots of local suppliers – butcher Icarus Hines, Cromer’s very own John and Claire Davies for fish, Alfie Pearce for vegtables, Norfolk Quail, Cheese Truckle of Norwich for cheese and butter, Fakenham eggs.. and our wonderful vinters Peter Graham and Blaise le Mesurier.
“Like most of those I’m a simple Norfolk boy too and although I had several years in London and overseas, sometimes you realise that money isn’t everything. My father saw me making money but he never saw me truly happy and I think he would be very pleased and proud today.
“We really do have a little piece of Norfolk magic here in Cromer and I am thrilled for the owners and the whole team, who are absolutely superb.”
Fabulous news for the team at The Grove, and further proof if any were needed that Cromer is a North Norfolk town that is firmly on the rise.
The Grove.
95 Overstrand Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 0DJ.
Tel: 01263 512412.
