The launch party for the new Aviary restaurant at The Feathers took place last night, where guests were wowed by the exciting new indoor/outdoor restaurant and terrace, complete with outdoor pizza oven, which will be open seven days a week from tomorrow (Thursday June 12).
Aiming to offer a more relaxed alternative to fine dining The Nest restaurant, the courtyard area at the historic hotel has been closed for months while work has been undertaken to transform it into a more accessible space.
Hosting its launch party last night, while the champagne flowed, canapés circulated and pizzas were made, guests witnessed the big reveal and the new 42 seater restaurant.
For Feathers owner Daniel Ede, of Ede Homes, who took on, and has extensively updated and refurbed The Feathers over the past few years, EXCLUSIVE: What to expect – The Feathers in Woodstock reopens with The Nest brasserie and Aviary bar after £3 million transformation! this was always part of the plan, albeit the second phase.
‘now you can pop in any day of the week and soak up the sun while ordering a pizza and a cocktail, or A glass of wine. The Aviary is for everybody’
“We don’t want to be a stuffy luxury hotel, we want to be flexible and offer multiple options, from the relaxed Aviary to fine dining at The Nest. And I feel we’ve really achieved that here”, Daniel says looking around the garden, packed with guests enjoying themselves in the balmy weather.
“So now you can pop in any day of the week and soak up the sun while ordering a pizza and a cocktail, or a glass of wine. The Aviary is for everybody, mums and kids, those with dogs, and anyone fancying something a bit different. It’s easy dining seven days a week,” he says.
As for what to expect, the extensive terrace now encompasses the brasserie style Aviary restaurant which is framed by huge bi-fold doors for that indoor/outdoor experience, to ensure it’s entirely weatherproof.
The pizza kitchen also now sits in pride of place on the terrace to encourage visitors to snatch a quick al fresco bite at the numerous tables shaded by huge umbrellas, where they can still enjoy full waitress service, or head chef Luke Rawicki and Shannon Mulholland‘s Sunday roast.
There are six sourdough pizzas on offer ranging in price from £16-£18, from The Purist – tomato, mozzarella, basil – to The Rambler with Merguez sausage, fior di latte, chilli and oregano, as well as a chef’s daily pizza special.
Throw in a flatbread and small plates menu, it means guests can also choose from the likes of glazed belly pork ribs, buffalo chicken wings and salads or The Aviary dog with pickles, mustard and red cabbage.
“Opening The Aviary gives our guests and visitors so many more options because it’s also an amazing event space for weddings or parties. But it also means The Feathers is now for everybody, so we think it will be a really great addition to Woodstock with its all day dining option,” Daniel adds.
“The Aviary was always an extension of the original vision of what we wanted to do here, to have more options for locals, to make it more accessible, offer somewhere more relaxed, something for everyone.
“What Luke, Shannon and their team are achieving at The Nest is incredible, people love it there, but if it’s a Monday after school and you fancy a pizza and a glass of wine The Aviary adds a new string to our bow.
“It’s been a challenge but we are delighted with the results and we think we are now using the space in a much better way. We can’t wait to open it to the public on Thursday (June 12),” Daniel concludes.
The Feathers is at 16-20 Market Street, Woodstock. Go to https://www.feathers.co.uk
