Those of you walking down the High Street in recent weeks would have seen the transformation of the White Vine into the Whitehouse Rye.
The Whitehouse is a new venture by Rosie Bates and her business partner Claudia Brown. Rosie has recently returned from New Zealand where she had been head baker for Bespoke Kitchen, winner of New Zealand cafe of the year. Claudia and her husband Tim also own and run The Standard Inn in Rye, which has just been awarded the Camra best pub award for the South East.
The Whitehouse opened its doors on September 9 and serves up breakfast all day from 8:30am, which includes a “make your own breakfast” option, and a fresh and interesting brunch and lunch menu all freshly cooked on the premises, which runs all day to 4pm. Drinks, coffee and cake are available until 5:30pm.
It also sees a much needed bakery return to the High Street in the form of the Lazy Baker, who has relocated from a number of locations across town to the nearly refurbished Whitehouse.
The Lazy Baker will act as the Whitehouse’s in-house baker and the move will see fresh bread being baked on the High Street throughout the week. And what bread – from rustic whites, granary and wholemeal sourdough loaves as well as excellent focaccia.
The Whitehouse will also be hosting regularly pop-up events with cuisine from around the world. To get the low down on the pop-up restaurant you can subscribe to their mailing list on their website www.whitehouserye.co.uk/
As well as food, the Whitehouse will be available for wedding hire and its six bedrooms are currently being refurbished and will be ready for 2018.
Photo: Kevin McCarthy