nourish team Chris Bartlett has joined Fritton Lake in Norfolk, coming from two years spent working at The Fat Duck in Bray, including a period with Heston Blumenthal in his lab in France.
Ipswich-born Chris originally approached owner Hugh Somerleyton, offering his time to his environmental charity, WildEast. Chris’ new role as Head Chef at Fritton Lake, part of the Rewilding Britain network and at the forefront of WildEast, combines his passion for sustainable farming practices and creating delicious food.
To celebrate his appointment, Fritton Lake is offering a £50 annual Clubhouse membership. This will encourage customers interested in dining to book tables and bring their friends. Guests are welcome to book their first table to trial the experience before signing up.
Chris, who holds a doctorate in organic chemistry and is a former professional road cyclist, has the energy, ambition and breadth of knowledge to contribute to Fritton’s thousand-acre nature restoration project. Here traditional arable, sheep and dairy farming have been replaced with wildland where cattle, water buffalo, wild pigs, and sheep roam freely. His menu is developed around food provided by the project and complemented by produce from only the very best local suppliers, creating a sustainable feast for members, holidaymtakers and guests.
Chris said: “Fritton Lake is a truly stunning place with a necessarily big vision for regenerative agriculture and hospitality; l have been completely inspired by the people here, and Hugh’s vision and drive. I am excited by the challenge and the opportunity to explore my interests in and outside the kitchen, and to learn off those around me. There will be subtle changes to the menu in the beginning; members and guests can expect seasonal dishes and family favourites made with produce foraged or reared from the Somerleyton Estate, grown in our own gardens or from East Anglia’s most passionate farmers.”
Hugh Somerleyton, owner of Fritton Lake and founder of its nature restoration project, said: “We are delighted to appoint Chris to lead our food offering at Fritton Lake. We have had an overwhelming response to our nature restoration project here and hope that by working together we can create not only a delicious menu but an experience that will inspire others to support a future with sustainable produce. If you love good food in a beautiful setting, then please book a table and try it out for yourself.”
Fritton Lake is a family-run private holiday club in the Wild East of England. It is home to a two-mile long lake, unspoilt sustainable wildland, beautiful wildlife and luxury cabin retreats set in the heart of a pioneering thousand-acre rewilding project designed to restore the biodiversity of its natural environment.
Owners, members, and guests can adventure in nature with wild swimming, trail running, cycling, paddleboarding and adventure play. It offers grass and clay tennis, volleyball, croquet and pétanque, a 22m outdoor heated pool, yoga and watersports, as well as a floating sauna on the lake. They can also join the nature restoration team to learn about the natural ecosystem and how to improve our environment.
- For more information, visit www.frittonlake.com. To book a table and for all membership enquiries please contact clubsecretary@frittonlake.co.uk
