New fine dining restaurant merging art and dining to launch near Barnstaple

Canvas Restaurant at Broomhill Estate in North Devon opens its doors on Friday, July 14. The restaurant boasts a unique concept, with a menu and exhibition that will be reinvented every 6 to 10 weeks, taking guests on an immersive journey where art and food come together to create a truly unforgettable dining experience. The aim is to inspire guests with a vivid and enjoyable experience that will leave a lasting impression.

The menu will change alongside the rhythms of the British countryside, ensuring produce is at the peak of its potential. As the name suggests, the restaurant is a ‘blank canvas’ ready and waiting to inspire and stimulate our diners. Art will become an intrinsic part of the dining experience, integral to the concept as well as its surroundings.

Josh Houben, restaurant manager at Canvas Restaurant, commented: “Our mission at Canvas Restaurant is to provide a platform for artistic expression while offering our guests a culinary journey that reflects the same innovative spirit found in the art world. We believe that combining art and food is a powerful way to engage and inspire our guests, and we strive to create an atmosphere that is both welcoming and thought-provoking. Our menu changes not only the food but the art and environment of the restaurant as well.”

Described as a contemporary dining experience in a casual manner, Canvas is fully committed to supporting the local British farmers, growers and producers that share its passion for the best of British produce. Elio Debae, Head Chef at Canvas, formerly of the Michelin Star team of ‘36 on The Quay’, commented: “Our focus is on the natural rhythms of the British countryside, this allows us to showcase the exceptional quality and diversity of UK products and ingredients through our carefully curated menus. We believe that food should be a celebration of the land and the people who nurture it, and we strive to convey this message through every plate that leaves our kitchen.”

Expect to see dishes such as cured scallops with fermented celeriac and chawanmushi with wild garlic miso.

Broomhill Estate, renowned for its sculpture gardens, award-winning exhibitions and boutique art hotel, is delighted to offer such a unique dining experience through Canvas. Charlie Powell, who curates the sculpture garden and the exhibitions at Broomhill, is excited to curate in this avant garde environment, he said: “There is an artistry in food, it is innovative and complex. It can provoke discussion and joy; just like art. For us, the two together make sense. It feels natural to incorporate art into our dining experience here at Canvas. We are excited to reinvent ourselves regularly; this gives us an opportunity to explore, play and create an environment where guests can engage, have fun, and fully immerse themselves in. We want our guests to enjoy the theatre of food and art as much as we do.”

PROLIFIC PSYCHEDELIC VISUAL ARTIST AND LOCAL LEGEND, JOHN HURFORD, ANNOUNCED AS FIRST ARTIST TO INSPIRE CANVAS RESTAURANT

John Hurford, the prolific psychedelic visual artist and Devon-born legend, will be the first artist to adorn and inspire the restaurant's menu, environment and diners. John is one of the UK’s best-loved and most well-known visual artists, and considered to be one of the main driving forces behind the British psychedelic art movement.

The body of work to be showcased at Canvas is of particular interest as it represents John’s distinctive style of hyper-real British fauna and flora, merged with what influenced him to get back into painting – abstract expressionism. In particular, John references Jackson Pollock's seminal works which made painting interesting to him once again where he rediscovered the essence of paint as the subject, and freedom of manifestation.

WHO IS THE TEAM BEHIND CANVAS RESTAURANT?

Elio Debae - Head Chef at Canvas Restaurant

Formerly Sous Chef at 1 Michelin Star restaurant ‘36 on the Quay’, Elio learnt all the traditional cookery knowledge from his Head Chef and owner, Raymond Farthing, giving him the confidence to explore the culinary world.

He completed stages at Holland’s ‘Oud Sluis’; Belgian’s ‘In de Wulf’; London’s ‘The Ledbury’ and ‘Dinner by Heston Blumenthal’ and had many more planned at top restaurants such as ‘Faviken’ in Sweden; ‘The Royal Mail’ in Australia and ‘Benu’ in San Francisco. Unfortunately Elio’s culinary tour was cut short after a snowboarding accident; he returned to ‘36 on the Quay’ under the new Head Chef, Gary Pears, who introduced him to a new style of contemporary British cuisine.

Following this, Elio seized upon an exciting opportunity to work in Mustique. Although he had planned on only spending a year there, he soon took over as the Executive Chef spending three and half years on the island.

Elio then took a role at ‘Oil Nut Bay’ in the British Virgin Islands as an Executive Chef and later as its Food and Beverage Manager. Covid hit, and Elio returned home.

Elio is now developing his own style of contemporary British cuisine with the aim of Canvas Restaurant becoming the first British restaurant to only use British produce (this includes the occasional inclusion of a few of the British overseas territories to supplement the offering).

Joshua Houben - Restaurant Manager at Canvas Restaurant

Josh ran the beverage program at the ‘Farmers Arms’, Woolsery under Head Chef, Ian Webber (previously of the 2* Michelin starred, ‘Gidleigh Park’) and Restaurant Manager, Harry Brooks (previously of ‘Rick Steins’ and ‘The Five Bells’, Clyst Hydon) from its opening in 2018 (the bar has just won Trenchermans best bar list!).

HOW CAN I BOOK?

Canvas Restaurant at Broomhill Estate boutique art hotel will launch on Friday, July 14, serving dinner for 14 covers, Wednesday to Saturday evenings from 6pm - 11pm (last seating at 8pm), and lunch Friday & Saturday 12-2 (last seating at 1.45). You can book here or visit https://broomhill-estate.com/ or call 01271 850 262.