The casual eatery located in Cheapside, in the bustling Lakes village, initially opened its doors in the summer of 2018, serving up a relaxed daytime menu brim full of tasty dishes using only the finest local ingredients has closed its doors for a short period to undergo a transformation.
The success of proprietor’s Ryan Blackburn’s flagship restaurant The Old Stamp House and the demand for his food is such that he has decided to take the bold step to revisit the concept underpinning Kysty.
It’s something of an understatement to say that the last few years have seen an upward trajectory for Ryan. Since winning his Michelin star in October 2019, Ryan has seen a 35% increase in guests enjoying both lunch and dinner at his flagship Church Street restaurant.
With The Old Stamp House full to capacity and boasting a waiting list of eager diners wanting to enjoy the delights of his 28-cover fine dining restaurant, Ryan has made the decision to introduce a new dining concept to Kysty.
The doors shut on the café shut earlier this month, (Jan 12th), and now it’s being transformed into an informal neighbourhood restaurant, which will open its doors in early February.
As well the change in dining ethos guests will also see stalwarts from The Old Stamp House step up and take the reins of the new neighbourhood eatery and strive to raise the bar for informal dining in the Lakes.
Dan Hopkins will take control of the stoves as head chef; having previously worked as Ryan’s sous chef for the last year, as part of the Michelin-starred kitchen team. Not to be outdone his colleague Laurentiu Bulprich, previously Ryan’s assistant restaurant manager, will take the reins front of house as Kysty’s restaurant manager. This formidable team will bring their experience to bear to ensure that diners will be able to experience seamless service and delicious food in Kysty’s informal surroundings.
The new restaurant will serve up a selection of dishes crafted using only the finest local ingredients to the same exacting standards as his flagship eatery but will retain the relaxed and informal ethos underpinning Kysty.
Menus will feature dishes like smoked mackerel pate, pickled cucumber and sorrel, Garside’s lamb rump, roasted broccoli, mint and anchovy emulsion and custard tart with poached rhubarb. Families aren’t left out either, as kids will be able to enjoy their own delicious menu created using the same quality ingredients that Ryan’s menus are renowned for.
Whilst Kysty is keeping its name, the interior is being improved; the kitchen is being altered to create a better working environment for the chefs, new tables and chairs are being introduced to the dining space, alongside some new lighting and art pieces, which are all aimed at creating a relaxed and informal dining experience. The idea is to provide diners with the perfect place for a casual night out, where they can enjoy Ryan’s award-winning food and enjoy great wines in comfortable surroundings.
Chef Proprietor Ryan Blackburn said: ‘’Our journey since winning the Michelin Star at Old Stamp House in October 2019 has been stratospheric. As a result, we’ve taken what some people might think is a bold step to transform Kysty into an informal neighbourhood restaurant but to be honest we just simply can’t ignore what our diners have been asking for. In being able to meet this demand we have also been able to support members of our team and help develop them and give them the opportunity to take the next step in their respective careers. Dan and Laurentiu are both hugely capable and professional and are real assets to our business. By offering them this opportunity we hope to make the most of their talents. The team are very excited and can’t wait to show you what we’ve been busy planning.’’
