The Butcher’s Social launches at The Forest Hotel
Solihull: 18th May, 2021 – A renowned Dorridge hotel has become the new home to a truly unique, quality dining offering – with the hotel and restaurant under new ownership from local investors and award winning chef Mike Bullard. The Forest Hotel on Station Approach is proud to introduce The Butcher’s Social, an established dining brand founded 10 years ago by Mike. The partnership will ensure high service levels in a warm, friendly atmosphere with a quality food offering – and has opened its doors this week as the country’s lockdown restrictions ease further, allowing indoor dining.
Investors Russell Martin, a Birmingham-based business founder and entrepreneur, and Darryl Eales, chairman, founder and investor of multiple businesses and organisations including Solihull Moors Football Club, are excited about the new venture. They have brought Mike Bullard’s renowned culinary skills into the mix to bring a unique and quality offering to guests locally, regionally and visitors from further afield.
The Butcher’s Social is an established brand with a loyal following, achieved during the restaurant’s former stints in Harborne – where the brand was born – and more recently Henley-in-Arden, where it was based for five years.
Mike said: “We are excited to bring The Butcher’s Social to the Dorridge area and look forward to welcoming guests, from regulars who know and love our food, and have travelled with us as we’ve relocated to different parts of the region, to newcomers who wish to come and see what we’re all about.
“In essence, The Butcher’s Social offers quality British cuisine, using ingredients sourced locally and nationally, to bring the best produce to the menu. From chicken wings at the bar to our infamous Sunday lunch; a three-course a-la-carte meal or a nine-course tasting menu, we offer a culinary delight for everyone and every dining occasion. Myself and the team are raring to go and we’re hitting the ground running this week,” he added.
The Butcher’s Social stands for the best of British produce and cuisine: it will source much of its meat from Staffordshire, eggs, dairy and game will be largely sourced locally – with elements such as speciality cheese brought in from other locations across the country that are famous for this produce. Fish will be brought from Scotland or Cornwall, with the best produce from the day’s catch. Ales will be sourced from local breweries, and the excellent food offering will be underpinned by exceptional service, supported by the competent team at The Forest Hotel.
Russell said: “The Forest Hotel is a kingpin of the community in Dorridge – somewhere that has become synonymous with great accommodation and dining options, as well as a place to hold parties such as birthdays, engagements and weddings – and a staple conference facility. Tracy and Gary Perkins have been in charge of the hotel for more than 20 years now, and have built this fantastic customer base which we’re thrilled and honoured to inherit. We want to maintain this and create a vibrant community hub, and we will be inviting feedback and innovative ideas so we can continually evolve in line with exactly what local people want. We want to achieve the best we possibly can for all who come here, from far and wide or those on our doorstep.”
Under the new ownership, there will also be an evolving calendar of events and highlights for local people to look forward to – from culinary events through to gin or wine tasting evenings.
The Forest Hotel also has a close partnership with the local football club, Solihull Moors, and a percentage of profits will be donated to the Solihull Moors Charitable Foundation – which collaborates with more than 25 schools in the Solihull catchment area on initiatives centred around anti-bullying, healthy eating and encouraging children to capitalise on their education.
Solihull Moors founder and chairman, and The Forest Hotel investor, Darryl Eales added: “We’re incredibly lucky to be taking ownership of a local hospitality venue that has been in great hands for decades and a real hub for locals. As the hospitality industry opens up this week, we are eager, ready and waiting for people to try this new local dining option. We will of course be operating in a Covid-safe manner, so numbers will be limited in accordance with this, to keep our staff and patrons safe.”
The Butcher’s Social at The Forest Hotel is now taking bookings, and its first Sunday lunch service will be on 23rd May. Online reservations can be made at The Butcher’s Social website or call 01564 772120. For further information about the restaurant and to view menus, visit https://www.thebutchers.social/. For more on the hotel, visit https://forest-hotel.com/.
(Image caption: Russell Martin, Mike Bullard and Darryl Eales outside The Forest Hotel, new home to The Butcher’s Social)
