Popular restaurant set to close
In a statement made online, owner of The Ollerod in Beaminster, Silvana Bandini, confirmed that they were to close the restaurant part of the business as of March 1, in what has been an ‘incredibly difficult decision’.
The rest of the business, including the hotel accommodation and bar, will remain open.
The owner explained that rising costs of produce and utilities to run the restaurant, among other economic challenges, has made it no longer viable to continue.
In the statement, Silvana said: “I’m sure you're all aware that the hospitality industry is on its knees at the moment, and sadly The Ollerod is no different. The economic state and rising costs leave me no choice.
“We would need to double the number of guests who dine daily or double our prices in order to make serving food viable. Neither of these is a realistic option.”
The Ollerod will continue to host guests in its hotel accommodation with breakfast and drinks in a new ‘bed and bar’ concept to adapt to what is working in the area.
The owner also explained the business was to undergo major changes in a ‘resurrection’ to continue its offering , including extending the bar and hosting workshops and evening events, with pop up food vendors to accommodate guests.
In the post, Silvana continued: “This is still uncharted territory for us, and we will evolve and change as we go, keeping you updated along the way.”
The Ollerod, at 3 Prout Bridge dates back to the 14th century and was opened by Silvana in 2018. It takes its name from the old Dorset dialect word meaning the cowslip.
