He’s as well-known off the Isle of Wight as on it, and with a series of awards and Michelin Stars under his belt, chef Robert Thompson has now made the leap to go solo, setting up his own restaurant in the Island’s capital.
Most on the Island would have first heard of Robert Thompson when he arrived in Ventnor in 2008.
Already with a Michelin Star to his name – at the incredible age of just 23 years old, the youngest ever at the time to achieve this standard – he went on to win The Hambrough’s first Michelin Star in January 2009 and succeeded in retaining it for four years.
Thompson’s
Robert’s new venture sees him go solo for the first time, downsizing from 100 seats at his recent stint at The George in Yarmouth, to 48 seats at his newborn Thompson’s which, is set to open in early summer 2015 in the heart of Newport, Isle of Wight.
Thompson: “Can’t wait to be back in the kitchen”
Aiming for quality over quantity, Robert says he “isn’t insisting upon a Rolls Royce when the budget calls for a VW”.
He told OnTheWight,
“As a chef who just loves to cook and be creative it has always been my dream to have my own place and now its here and happening. I am absolutely buzzing!
“I love the Island and can’t wait to be back in the kitchen cooking for my customers and friends.
“The building is fantastic and the first time I walked into the place, I knew it was the one.”
What to expect
From his first beginnings on the Isle of Wight, Robert has always been an ambassador for Isle of Wight produce, so and as you’d expect, he says he’ll continue to seek out – from land to sea – the very best the Isle of Wight has to offer.
His menus will remain brief and to the point, his style of cooking “respectful of the old classics, yet mindful of a modern dining trend that values”, above all, expect lightness and freshness.
Robert’s sous chef from The Hambrough and The George, Simon Ulph – a rising star in the culinary field – will be joining as his number two at Thompson’s.
The restaurant
Work is due to start shortly on the new Thompson’s, transforming it into a venue that “will sparkle brightly, bathed in warm, stylish interiors yet keeping simplicity at its heart”.
Robert says it will bridge the gap between bistro and overly exclusive restaurants and offers itself as a new home for local artists.
Whether you’re looking to eat or simply hang out for evening drinks at the bar, Thompson’s sounds like somewhere we’re all going to want to visit when it opens.
