Reservations are now open at Chef Adam Handling’s newest Cornish location, The Tartan Fox. The team have opened earlier than planned, so guests are able to get a table at the pub from this Friday, 7th June, as they welcome visitors with menus that have been created using the best Cornish produce and Adam’s signature zero-waste ethos, just a short distance from Adam’s stunning coastal restaurant, Ugly Butterfly.
Located in the idyllic countryside between Newquay and Truro, the new pub benefits from an exceptionally spacious garden, which Adam and his team plan to use throughout the seasons to grow as much of their own produce as possible, making the field-to-fork journey just a matter of steps. The team have already begun harvesting and picking their own edible flowers, wild fruit, herbs and vegetables for use in the dishes, whilst working with trusted local suppliers who the team have established relationships with since the opening of Ugly Butterfly in St. Ives in 2021.
The new A La Carte menu takes inspiration from sister pub, The Loch & the Tyne, which has a Michelin Bib Gourmand and 3 AA rosettes, and continues Adam’s visionary approach to zero-waste, modern British food, underpinned by the philosophy that is consistent throughout each of his restaurants; ‘Sustainable, local luxury’.
The menu gives a new walk of life to classic pub fare, offering refined dishes made with outstanding Cornish produce, with a touch of Adam’s Scottish influence. It includes smaller dishes such as ‘Beef tartare, St. Ewe yolk, crispy potato’, ‘Cornish crab cocktail’ and Adam’s signature dish ‘Mother’. Larger dishes include ‘Roast rump of lamb, peas, mint, asparagus’, ‘Hake, white beans, chicken butter sauce’ and ‘Steamed mussels, lemon, lobster sauce’. The grill section also offers ‘Whole grilled lobster’ and a selection of ever-changing steaks from their own dry-aging meat fridges.
Desserts are just as enticing, with ‘Chocolate pudding, sour cherries’ and ‘Deep-fried Mars bar, frozen honeycomb’ in homage to Adam’s Scottish roots. His famous ‘King’s Trifle’, a guest favourite at The Loch & the Tyne, will also now be available to try in Cornwall, originally created by Adam for HRH King Charles III’s Coronation.
A Sunday Lunch menu is available and offers outstanding roasts including ‘Half roast Wicketts chicken, lemon thyme’, the famous ‘Dry-aged beef Wellington, wrapped in haggis and black pudding’, ‘Glazed pork belly, apple, sage’ and ‘Grilled day boat fish, sea herbs, brown butter’. Plant-based options are also available for all menus.
The ‘Tartan Cubs’ menu is also available for little foodies. Adam always wants to encourage young people to be inquisitive when it comes to food, so offers the option for them to ask for smaller portions of any dishes from the main menu also.
The wine list is as expected from an Adam Handling restaurant, offering highly sought-after, yet approachable, wines. The reason burgundy is part of the colour scheme inside the pub is because it gives the perception of red wine. The list features wines from all over the world, from small vines to traditional favourites, all procured by Group Wine Director, Kelvin McCabe. The aim was to have a wine focused drinks offering, as opposed to the traditional beer one, as Adam felt this would be more diverse and playful for the pub.
As at all Adam Handling restaurants, art plays a huge role at The Tartan Fox, and a selection of Adam favourite artists can be seen on display including Paul Oz, Katy Jade Dobson, JJ Adams, Chess, Michelle Mackie and Monica Vincent. All artwork is also available to purchase at Adam’s Frog Gallery in Covent Garden, London.
The name ‘The Tartan Fox’ is inspired by Adam’s Scottish roots and the location of the pub, which is nestled in the middle of a Cornish forest and, much like a fox’s home, is a den to escape in the countryside. A group of foxes is called an earth, which ties into his Group’s commitment to sustainability. On that note, Adam has transformed this 1669 year old building, stripping it back to its original beauty, and bringing as much earth inside as he can. This is reflected in the pub’s interiors which feature earthy tones and natural materials including stone and wood, taking inspiration from the 400-year-old Grade II listed building’s heritage, which sits on 30 acres of land.
The Tartan Fox seats inside 87 covers across two floors, which include the bar, wine room, restaurant and private and semi-private dining spaces. The real excitement is the antique Barn at The Tartan Fox, which will be used for supper-clubs and beautiful weddings. The wedding offering at the Fox will be something magical and Chef Adam has promised he will cater for every one that books.
The Tartan Fox, Carvynick Farm, A3058, Newquay, TR8 5AF