Life after lockdown - restaurant boss takes on hotel

Chef Anthony Smith reopened Millers restaurant earlier this year, shortly before having to switch to doing takeaway meals only during the restrictions. Now he is reopening the Finch Hatton Arms Hotel in Ewerby.

He said: “It wasn’t common knowledge that the Finch Hatton was available but we knew someone. If we didn’t take this opportunity we would have regretted it as these things do not come along every day.

“It may not be the best timing in some people’s eyes to launch a business but we will give it a go.”

Anthony, who is taking on the challenge with his younger brother, David, said they were both excited: “With Millers we already had a reputation and client base. This one is more of a marketing rebuild. We want to modernise the branding slightly and put new menus in, including a pizza menu as it has a pizza oven, as well as lunchtime menu and afternoon tea.”

As well as the bar and restaurant it has a function room catering for up to 100, fully licensed for weddings, also having 18 hotel rooms. They will be honouring existing bookings and expect to pick up postponed events now scheduled for 2021.

Anthony said there are a number of local attractions ideal for the hotel trade such as the aviation heritage centres and RAF Cranwell.

The grand re-launch is on Saturday August 1, when the hotel will be open from 9am until late to view with rooms and the function room all on show.