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In pictures: New Market House restaurant launches in Cambridge




Market House, a new restaurant, café, wine bar and meeting space in Cambridge’s market square, has officially launched following an extensive refurbishment. It is situated within a beautiful five-storey, grade II-listed building – which was originally a wine merchant’s and was previously home to the popular Don Pasquale restaurant.

Bill Brogan, general manager at Market House, Cambridge, announcing that other floors are now open. Picture: Keith Heppell
Bill Brogan, general manager at Market House, Cambridge, announcing that other floors are now open. Picture: Keith Heppell

The site also boasts a ‘food lab’ cookery school, not to mention an impressive selection of wines. The official opening gathering was held on Wednesday, August 3, with suppliers, business leaders and members of the community invited. Guided tours of the building were given and guests were able to sample canapés and some of the various drinks on offer.

The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
The official launch of Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell

Jinzhao Li, director of Market House Cambridge, said: “We’ve been working very hard on this project for over two years, and today is a very important milestone for us. From the end of June and early July, we started opening up parts of the building, like the outside al fresco dining and the kiosk for takeaway coffee and tea.

“The first-floor restaurant started receiving customers from July 1, but today [August 3] is our official launch, welcoming families, friends and suppliers in.”

Discussing some of the concepts the establishment offers, Jinzhao continued: “The first floor is the restaurant, which is going to have a British menu with Asian influences, and a very interesting drinks list.

“On the second floor we have a private dining room and the food lab, which is used by our chef a lot – for menu testing and research and development – and also for private hire as well, for chef training or competitions and presentations. We’ll organise some ‘hands-on’ interaction with our customers as well. That will be a bit further down the line.”

Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell

The private dining space and meeting rooms are suitable for celebrations, gatherings and business meetings. Jinzhao, who is originally from China, notes that the eatery has two menus.

“One is the ‘restaurant’ menu – mainly British food with Asian and a bit of Mediterranean influences – and the other is a casual menu, which will be served outside and in the basement wine bar. That’s going to have more Asian influences, more casual, relaxed, smaller dishes. Then after 5pm, the wine bar will be open, with some snacks.”

The wine bar, a light and pleasant space located within the basement, opened on Wednesday of this week (August 10). Jinzhao says the team has worked “very, very hard” since the other parts of the establishment opened and benefit from “great passion”.

“They are very experienced, with service, and food and drink,” she said. “We started slowly but we’ve had great feedback from people who have been through the doors, and lots of interesting interaction and conversations with the customers.”

Jinzhao Li, director at Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Jinzhao Li, director at Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Bill Brogan, general manager at Market House, Cambridge, announcing that other floors are now open. Picture: Keith Heppell
Bill Brogan, general manager at Market House, Cambridge, announcing that other floors are now open. Picture: Keith Heppell

The kiosk is housed on the ground floor, offering a more casual feel, and there is a meeting room on the third floor, which is used for internal training and private hire. The top floor is made up of office space. Lining the walls of the restaurant are old photographs of the building and the surrounding area from days gone by.

[Read more: Market House to offer restaurant, wine bar and meeting space in central Cambridge]

Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Market House, Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell

Jinzhao added: “I think Market House, from where we are standing in front of the wall of memories, is really echoing the memory of market square, memories of Cambridge, and memories of this building, the way it used to be...

“This place is a grade II-listed building and we want it to really carry on being a community place for Cambridge people, for our suppliers, our customers, so they can enjoy their time at Market House. We want people to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed designing the concept.”

Market House also boasts splendid views of the market square and some of Cambridge’s most picturesque buildings. Visit markethouse.co.uk.



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