MEET THE TEAM
Back in January 2017, bedridden, Colin wondered how he would cope with commuting and working after his knee replacement. Fortunately the opportunity for early retirement came along, and all his problems were solved - or so he thought. Fast-forward seven months and his life had been turned upside down - he and his wife moved up to Nottinghamshire to be near their grandchildren and he had decided to deal with the boredom of retirement by indulging his hobby of cooking and going to West Notts College to study for a professional qualification in Cookery. Which is where he met some brilliant young chefs - not to mention fabulous teaching staff.
​
Once they had all qualified (with both NVQ Levels 2 and 3), Colin was finding it difficult to find anyone to employ him, and some of his colleagues were unhappy in their jobs, having experienced bullying and sexism.
​
So Colin set the train in motion that would lead to him owning and running his own restaurant where he could provide a nurturing experience to newly qualified and trainee chefs and waiting staff.
He looked around Mansfield for premises, and had the good fortune to find a restaurant up for sale.
​
And so 1 was born. And now all we need is you!
​
Colin​ - CHEF-PATRON
Having spent 40 years working in IT, I decided to turn his hobby of cooking at home into something more professional. A Londoner by birth and nature, my wife and I moved up to Kirkby in Ashfield in 2017 to be nearer our grandchildren (although there's another on the way now in Kent) and met the rest of the kitchen team when they obtained their catering qualifications together at West Notts College.
​
I love travel, especially around the South of France, and I particularly like trying local foods - barenjenas (deep fried slices of aubergine) and chorizo in Malaga, socca and pissaladiere in Nice, grilled fish with bread and red wine on a Croatian island, Babas Ganoush or a Tagine from North Africa, the smell of herbs and spices assailing your nostrils - wonderful memories.
​
Anyhow, that's what I want to bring to the table, and I hope you enjoy eating it as much as I enjoy cooking AND eating it.
​
You can read more from me on my blog here