Published February 3rd, 2020
Work on the refurbishment of the restaurant Amélies, in Porthleven, is underway following a kitchen fire last year.
Scheduled to re-open in late spring 2020, the new restaurant will feature a fresh interior, designed by local firm Boex, and new lunch and evening menus created to encourage sharing and casual dining.
Amélies, set in a stunning location overlooking Porthleven Harbour, was forced to close after a fire took hold on 12 October 2019. The fire caused considerable damage to the kitchen and first floor toilets, and structural damage to the roof as well as smoke contamination within the restaurant.
Sam Sheffield-Dunstan, the owner of Amélies, said: “We were all shocked after the fire. Fortunately, no customers were in the restaurant at the time and staff on duty acted quickly to alert the fire brigade.
“Damage to the property was more extensive than initially thought, and surveys, insurance claims, structural work, and design all had to take place before we could even start on the refurbishment.
“It has been a long process, however, it has also been a time to reflect on Amélies and how we want to take it forward for the next decade. We’ve revisited our grass roots which are about informal dining with friends and family, and sharing great food in a beautiful setting.”
The new restaurant design will be light and airy with Mediterranean influences. Bench seating, combined with an eclectic choice of tables and chairs, will make the most of the space and enable a variety of seating options.
On a fine day, the conservatory doors will open to make the most of the picturesque harbour setting. Live music will continue to be a regular feature and the restaurant will also be available for private hire and weddings.
The lunch menu will feature light bites, smaller plates and sharing platters, while evening dining will have an emphasis on locally-sourced fish dishes.
Sam Sheffield-Dunstan said: “Provenance is really important to us. We source local ingredients, including meat and fish from local suppliers. We are now actively looking to source all our fish and vegetables within a 25 mile radius. You can’t get much fresher than fish brought in to Newlyn Harbour, or crab landed in Porthleven that morning.”
