Historic Building open for business once again
7 October 2011
A Grade I historic building in the heart of
Kendal will once again be welcoming people through its doors
following a major £200,000 refurbishment. The Castle Dairy
will open as a restaurant, patisserie and art gallery and will be
managed and run by apprentices from Kendal College.
On Thursday 13 October at 11.30am, Kendal
born historian and TV personality David Starkey will be joined by
the Leader of South Lakeland District Council, Councillor Brendan
Jameson and the Principal of Kendal College, Graham Wilkinson to
officially open the newly revamped Castle Dairy. They will be
cutting a cake made especially for the event by catering students
from the college.
The project has restored and refurbished the
interior of the Castle Dairy to accommodate a gallery area and a
new commercial kitchen. As owners of the building, the
council has invested £120,000 into the development with further
financial support from English Heritage who allocated a grant of
£30,527 to help restore the 14th Century building.
The Savoy Educational Trust, Lakeland Vintners and Kendal College
provided a further £65,000 to fund equipment plus fixtures and
fittings for the new restaurant and kitchen.
Councillor Brendan Jameson, Leader of
SLDC, said: ”I’m delighted that after many years of hard
work the Castle Dairy is being brought back to life. This
beautiful Grade I listed building has been fully restored to its
former glory and it will be great to see the apprentices from
Kendal College running the restaurant and patisserie. We have
worked in partnership with the College on this very worthwhile
project, and I hope residents and visitors will enjoy visiting the
Castle Dairy to sample the culinary delights on offer and to view
the art on display.”
Graham Wilkinson, Principal of Kendal College,
added: “This is yet another good example of organisations pulling
together in difficult economic times to make things happen.
It will be an amazing venue for fine dining for the general public
and an opportunity for Museum visitors to enjoy afternoon
teas.”
The Castle Dairy will be open to the general
public six days per week, Monday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm, with
dinner being available Thursday, Friday & Saturday
evenings. For more information, please check the Kendal
College website at www.kendal.ac.uk