INNOVATIVE RESTAURANT
WORKS TO REDUCE FOOD MILES
In recent years, the distance
food is transported from producer
to plate has shockingly increased
by around 50%*, and even a simple
roast dinner could have travelled
over 24,000 miles before being
eaten*. With the political and
economic focus turned firmly towards
the environment, many restaurants
are now using local suppliers in
order to reduce potential food
miles. The Glasshouse restaurant
in Lyndhurst, The New Forest, is
one of the restaurants in the UK
actively working to reduce food
miles for customers by sourcing
its produce locally to produce
a sumptuous and exciting menu.
Located in Pikes Hill, Lyndhurst,
the newly opened restaurant with
a world-class chef has sourced
the best of ingredients from Hampshire
and Dorset to create an innovative
menu, which in turn has boosted
the local economy. Chef Richard
Turner comments; “There are
a wealth of delicious ingredients
in and around the New Forest which
are of the excellent quality one
would expect from a restaurant
such as The Glasshouse. By reducing
the food miles of the ingredients
we source we are not only getting
deliciously fresh ingredients,
but working to be more environmentally
friendly in the process.”
Restaurant Manager Matt Magee
has had positive feedback from
current suppliers who have noticed
a rise in profits recently due
to businesses wanting to use local
produce. He says; “Our suppliers
are reporting that they have had
a noticeable increase in business
from local companies wishing to
use suppliers in the area. Many
of them have had profit increases
as a result. A year ago people
were more concerned with the cost
of products than boosting the local
economy, however this has changed
recently and we’re proud
to be part of this change - and
getting better quality produce
in the process.”
Suppliers to The Glasshouse are
welcoming a change from large businesses
being profit driven to being more
environmentally aware. Claytons
Farm supplies free range eggs to
The Glasshouse and the eggs travel
just 11 miles from the farm to
the plate. Owner Phillip Shepherd
comments; “It’s nice
to see big companies dealing with
small suppliers like us. Our produce
is free range and healthy and our
clients know that they’ll
get a fresh quality product from
us, which is worthwhile when serving
quality meals to customers like
The Glasshouse is doing.”
Because local suppliers to The
Glasshouse are seeing their profits
increase, some are now investing
into eco-friendly business practices
themselves. New Forest Spring Water,
who provide bottled water to the
restaurant (travelling only 18
miles) have changed their business
plan in line with recent trends: “It’s
not just ‘food’ miles
that matter, but ‘product’ miles
too and we’ve seen quite
a change lately thanks to clients
jumping on the environmental bandwagon.
This has meant we are now investing
into systems which will make our
bottles completely reusable, thus
providing an environmentally friendly
solution,” says Rodney Gregg. “The
increased business from companies
such as The Glasshouse has made
this investment possible.”
The Glasshouse Restaurant is open
Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and
dinner. The delectable three course
set menu is £30 per head,
offering superb value for money
for the finest local ingredients
served in a contemporary atmosphere.
For more information and to view
the menu, visit https://forestlodge.newforesthotels.co.uk/eat-and-drink or call 02380 286129.
*Between 1978 and1999. From: corporatewatch.org.uk
*From: Scottishgreens.org.uk
One of the sumptuous locally sourced
meals at The Glasshouse
