A South Staffordshire gourmet restaurant and bar is celebrating its first six months in business, with a recruitment drive and the launch of its new summer menu.

The Lesters Arms, which is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Billy Hutchinson, is looking to take on new members of staff to help with front of house and bar/waiting work to cope with growing demand.

The venue was transformed from the derelict New Inns on the Kiddemore Green Road in Brewood and has been gaining rave reviews from local people who can meet for ales, craft beers and cocktails, hold special occasions and enjoy a superb range of starters, main meals and desserts.

It has also recently launched its new summer menu, which Head Chef Phil Jones describes as ‘a celebration of local seasonal produce, perfectly designed to complement alfresco dining and celebratory meals’.

Some of the new attractions include chargrilled Tiger prawns and roasted scallops, shellfish bisque, chervil cream starters and a signature rosemary roasted rack of lamb with creamed peas, minted new potato cake and rosemary redcurrant jus.

“The first six months has been a challenging, yet extremely rewarding experience,” explained Mia Williams, Deputy General Manager at The Lesters Arms.

“We've been able to create quality experiences for diners, whether they're celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a weeknight meal. Importantly, we’ve also crafted an ambitious team, who really believe in The Lesters Arms and what we can achieve and there’s an opportunity for likeminded people to join us with our latest recruitment drive.”

She went on to add: “To mark our first six months of trading our very talented Head Chef has created a special summer menu for diners to enjoy - it really needs to be tasted to be believed, with fillet of stone bass, dressed Cornish Crab and pea and mint tortellini.”

The Lesters Arms, which has introduced a Prix Fixe two and three-course menu available from Monday to Wednesday, can seat up to 60 guests inside and tens more in the large outdoor space and garden at the rear of the premises, making it an ideal venue for summer dining or for cyclists looking for a drinks break.

It has placed a lot of emphasis on building strong partnerships with local suppliers, already signing up The Egg Sisters and Wells Farm Dairy. A local Baker of the Month is also always selected and the latest company to provide amazing cakes and pastries is Brewood’s Yvette’s Cakes.

Mia concluded: “There are so many fantastic pubs and venues closing and we wanted to reverse that trend. It is a difficult sector to operate in, but we have the team, the location and the blossoming reputation to be one of the West Midlands real destination bars and restaurants.”

For further information, visit thelestersarms.co.uk.