THE historic Castle Dairy Restaurant & Art Gallery in Kendal has become the first apprentice-run eatery in the country to be awarded 2AA rosettes for the quality of its food.

The unique fine dining restaurant only reopened its doors in May with a new team trained and led by head chef Chris O’Callaghan. Prior to this, it had been closed for 18 months for a complete refurbishment due to flood damage from Storm Desmond in December 2015.

The Castle Dairy is managed by Kendal College and is a fine dining training restaurant staffed mainly by catering apprentices both in the kitchen and front of house. The setting, in one of Kendal’s oldest and quirkiest buildings, adds to the charm and makes it unlike any other dining venue.

During the refurbishment, a brand new chef’s table was introduced to the pass, which now gives diners the chance to see the apprentices in action in the kitchen.

This is the first time in the Castle Dairy’s six-year history that it has been awarded rosettes for food and is also the only 2AA rosette standalone restaurant in Kendal. According to the AA, two rosettes are awarded to ‘excellent restaurants, which aim for and achieve higher standards, better consistency, and where a greater precision is apparent in the cooking.’

Chris said: “For the dairy to be awarded 2AA rosettes within six months of opening is a great achievement for the team. Everyone has played their part and I’m so very proud of the first-class contemporary food and service that we are consistently delivering.

“For us to have achieved what we have so far with a small team of apprentices who are constantly learning is just mind blowing to me and I’m so happy for them. Our goal now is to continue to exceed people’s expectations and have the Castle Dairy recognised as one of the best places to eat in the area.”