Former North East Chef of the Year Andrew Wilkinson has joined forces with travel and food writers Keith and Lynne Allan to open Dell – an artisan bakery, café and bistro – in Heddon-on-the-Wall.
Andrew and the Allans are looking to build on the success of the team’s supper clubs at the Old Dairy in Ford with takeaway savouries and patisseries, artisan coffees and boxed meals currently available. As lockdown restrictions relax, Andrew and the team will be offering more dining options throughout the day.
“We are absolutely over the moon with what we’ve found,” said the Allans. “Dell has been successfully run by the previous owners but we think it’s the perfect place to put our own, very different stamp on it by presenting a range of patisserie, specialist breads, barista-made coffee and homemade soups for our customers to take away. We are also offering a full traditional afternoon tea in a box.”
Travel journalists and antique dealers, the Allans aim to capture the French bistro look inside Dell, while also offering wines from vineyards they’ve visited on their travels.
“I can’t wait to get going,” said Andrew. “I’ve come to know Keith and Lynne over recent years and we have worked very well together doing parlour suppers and lunches at the Dairy. We have similar ideas about good food and the main thing is we are working together to build something special. We aim to appeal to a wide range of customers, whether it’s for great coffee and baking, a tasty light lunch or something more special in the evening.”
Dell is currently open for takeaway savouries and patisseries, artisan coffees and boxed meals with further plans for outdoor and indoor dining in place as lockdown restrictions relax. For the latest information, check out Dell – Heddon on Facebook.
