About Us
Husband and Wife team, Felix and Anna have started a new journey by opening their very own Cafe/Restaurant. We cannot wait to welcome you and bring the knowledge and love for hospitality that we have into the area.
Returning from New Zealand in March, marrying in June and owning our own restaurant by September... This is definitely a year to remember.
Felix Shore
Personal Profile
Felix, grew up in Whitchurch and attended Bishop Heber High School before travelling up to Scotland for University where he studied Politics. Since then he has embarked on a culinary journey that has taken him to some of the best restaurants around the World.
From working at the renowned O'Connell Street Bistro in New Zealand under the guidance of Mark Southon, to his time spent in the UK at the Michelin-recommended Docket No33, where Stuart, the owner, invested an immeasurable amount of time in his development. This invaluable mentorship shaped Felix's approach to cooking and solidified his dedication to technique, product knowledge, and seasonality.
Felix's thirst for knowledge and learning different techniques took him to Copenhagen. From there, he travelled to Oslo to stage at the renowned Kontrast and on to Sweden at Restaurant Frantzen.
Continuing his quest for culinary excellence, Felix briefly returned to the UK to be part of the opening team at a Mike Robinson restaurant, which specialised in cooking meat and game over open flames.
Still eager for new experiences and cultural influences, he accepted a position at Restaurant Natura in Helsinki, Finland where Felix embraced the opportunity to learn from their farm-to-table practices and navigate the unique challenges of shorter seasons and a potholed supply chain.
After his time in Finland, Felix returned full circle, working once again with Stuart as the restaurant experienced tremendous growth.
He later further honed his skills as the acting head chef at a previous restaurant, gaining invaluable experience in managing larger teams, understanding the business side of running a restaurant within a hotel, and navigating the complexities of management.
Having lived in New Zealand for the past 18 months, Felix brings with him a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and a genuine love for the culinary craft.
With his unwavering commitment to technique, product quality, and seasonality, Felix aspires to create dishes that not only delight the palate but also reflect his dedication to the science of cooking.
Anna Roseblade-Shore
Personal Profile
Anna grew up in Farndon, attending Monument Place Nursery, Farndon Primary, Bishop Heber High School and then following on to London for a degree in Fashion Design.
Anna is a highly accomplished restaurant manager with an impressive track record of over 10 years in the hospitality industry, coupled with more than 4 years of exceptional management expertise.
Having started in Hospitality at the Grosvenor Arms in Aldford and then working at restaurants and bars in between her studies, Anna has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Committing to Hospitality, Anna worked for Michelin-recommended Docket No'33 with Stuart and Fran Collins as her mentor.
Anna has learnt a lot from both hatted, and La Liste restaurants in New Zealand, taking charge of some of the best restaurants on the North Island.
Anna is a natural leader, motiving and inspiring teams to consistently surpass expectations. With a strong focus on a positive work environment it is no wonder that Anna has returned home to settle back into village life and bring something modern and new to Farndon.
Goodbye, Goodbye, Good friends, Goodbye...
A little nod to Bear in the Big Blue House for those who remember it—but yes, something else is changing at 209.
The familiar faces you've come to know and love are moving on, and we're incredibly sad to be saying goodbye to both Carys and Liv.
As they say, all good things must come to an end, and while we're going to miss them hugely, we're also so excited for the adventures that lie ahead for them both.
Liv is heading off to university, but first she's making the most of her summer—catching up with friends, travelling around Europe, and making memories before (hopefully!) settling into life in Manchester to study Biology.
Carys is taking some well-earned time out and is off to France to visit her big brother Harry on a family trip. After that, she's setting her sights on an exciting new adventure, with plans to spend some time working in Australia.
We couldn't be prouder of these two. They've been so much more than employees—they've become part of our family. That's one of the joys (and heartbreaks!) of running a small independent business: you spend so much time together that your team becomes exactly that... your team, your friends, your family.
We'll miss their laughter, their hard work and their smiling faces more than we can say, but thankfully we know we'll still bump into them around the village. And the good news? Carys has already promised she'll be back to lend a hand at our wine dinners and special events—so keep an eye out and book yourself in if you'd like to see a familiar face!
Both Carys and Liv will be with us until the end of this week before we close for the restaurant renovations, so if you're popping in for a coffee, make sure you stop by to wish them all the very best. We're going to miss them both enormously.