Businesses in Kendal are taking part in #yourewelcomekendal, a campaign to promote all the fantastic cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, producers and food retailers in the town. We’ve been catching up with the people behind the businesses to find out why they love what they do.

Leon and Helen Whitehead run The Moon Highgate restaurant in Kendal. The restaurant serves high quality modern British cuisine prepared by head chef Leon and his team, using the best seasonal ingredients from across Cumbria and the UK. 

“I think we stand out in Kendal because, although there are lots of good restaurants, there’s nowhere producing food in the way that Leon does,” says Helen. 

“A lot of the dishes take days to create and we put a lot of emphasis on bringing out a real depth of flavour, that’s what Leon is really known for. We love it when people come in and try new things and you can see how much they enjoy it. It makes us really happy. 

“Leon is classically French trained, but we use a lot of British ingredients and locally reared meat. He lived in North Africa for a long time, visiting the markets and experiencing all the fabulous produce and he’s also done a lot of travelling through Europe; so there are many different influences in his cooking. When he returned from Africa to the Lakes with his family he also began learning about foraging and game, so he’s always been learning and developing. 

“The restaurant itself has a very relaxed atmosphere. We want people to come in and just enjoy being looked after. Some people come in a couple of times a week, some people a couple of times a month. We’ve got a lot of people where we’re their first port of call when they come up on holiday.  You become friends with people and you share in any celebrations that they might be having. They ask after our family and we ask after theirs. It’s a lovely atmosphere.

 “There is a really eclectic mix of people in Kendal. It attracts all sorts because you’ve got good bars, restaurants, the theatre and cinema and, of course, everyone who comes to the Lakes for holidays and outdoor activities. The people who come here have always got an interesting story to tell. 

“The best thing about the restaurant is the people who come here. On a busy night when you can hear everyone laughing and joking and enjoying the food it’s just a wonderful place to be. It brings me a lot of joy. I just love the buzz of the place when it’s full and everyone’s having a good time.”

Check out The Moon Highgate at www.themoonhighgate.com

About #yourewelcomekendal

#yourewelcomekendal is being funded by the Government’s Welcome Back Fund. The Welcome Back Fund is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and HM Government as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

Find out more.

The Moon

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