Autumn has suddenly arrived, and as the nights draw closer, it feels like winter is just around the corner.
As the hospitality industry reels from further lockdown restrictions and coronavirus cases rise, many will find it safer to eat out outdoors.
In the summer, it's easy because you can set up outdoor tables and umbrellas at your venue. However, come October, the challenge will be how to make people feel comfortable when dining out.
For comfortable reading, please read in warm and dry conditions. But that's not all. It has to be appealing enough to lure people off the couch, delivery room or box set.
If you want a case study on how to do that, check out the Churchill Hotel in Bootham.
Wood-fired pizza at The Churchill on Bootham
This rather luxurious hotel is more used to hosting wedding parties than pizza parties, but it's had to adapt with the times.
It has been transformed into a magical outdoor restaurant specializing in selling wood-fired pizzas Thursday through Sunday.
If you wish, you can order a more extensive menu in-store, but one look at the fairy-lit Churchill Gardens will change your mind.
And new for autumn is a set of see-through “garden igloos” that can be hired for groups of up to six people for a two-and-a-half-hour slot, priced from £20 to £45. This is non-refundable and will be added to your food and beverage bill.
One of the heated garden igloos available for rent in Churchill
The igloo officially opened in early October, but it was only a few days after our visit, so I wasn't able to review the experience. But one was in place so I took a peek inside. It was like sitting inside an igloo made of transparent plastic panels. Our waiter said they would heat each one up in the colder months and sanitize between each party.
So we don't have igloos. Instead we had an outdoor table (free) next to a heater (which was out of fuel).
The garden area is also great, with outside lights and heaters, and each table has a jar of lit candles. There is also a huge fire pit.
If we can avoid a second lockdown, I suspect the Churchill will be full all year round.
We met two friends K and D who had already arrived and were enjoying a bottle and a warm, fruity Malbec.
The waiter pulled a nearby table for us so we could sit 4 people but still maintained social distancing. Each table had a number and QR code, which we had to download onto our smartphones to order.
I'm getting used to this, and although I was a little confused about how to enter my bank account details, we were soon enjoying our drinks. My husband had a large glass or Malbec and I had a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Similarly, staff were wearing masks when we went inside to use the restroom.
The menu can be accessed via QR code. If you dine outside Thursday through Sunday, your options are limited to pizza or sharing platters. House menu will apply for the rest of the week.
Churchill's Pizza Hut offers wood-fired pizza
We all only had our eyes on the pizza. There were at least 9 choices on the menu and we each had something different. Prices ranged from £11 for a margherita to £12.95 for a prawn pizza.
There are also special offers. Margherita pizza and a bottle of Peroni for £12.95.
Other options include the New Yorker (with mozzarella, pepperoni, mixed peppers and jalapeños) for £11.95. Vesuvio (mozzarella, salami, spicy nduja sausage, pepperoni, jalapeno) £11.95. Pollo BBQ (barbecued chicken breast and red onions) £11.95; Rustica (mozzarella, chargrilled aubergine, chestnut mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, arugula) £11.95. Fig and Gorgonzola (white pizza with mozzarella, fresh figs, gorgonzola, red onion, arugula and balsamic sauce) £11.95.
My friend K was the latter. It's called white pizza because it doesn't contain tomatoes, but the other ingredients make up for the lack of flavor. It was something she declared “amazing.” Her husband admired his rustica as well.
Due to coronavirus precautions we weren't able to share our pizza, so you'll have to take their word for it.
My husband had the Vesuvio (mozzarella, salami, spicy nduja sausage, pepperoni, and jalapeño). I didn't add chili oil because I thought it would be spicy enough. He said he was right, adding that the level of heat was “just right.”
I chose the pizza with shrimp. By the time the meal arrived it was pitch dark and we were dining by candlelight (the photos reflect that!)
The pizza appeared to be served on a wooden board with a handle and we were given stainless steel cutlery to eat it with.
The pizzas take just a few minutes to cook in the wood-fired oven (located in a “hut” in the corner of the property), so our orders arrived quickly.
The pizzas were a decent size and pizza chef Henry didn't skimp on the toppings.
I enjoyed it, but I think it tasted even better outside. The base is thin, but not too thin, and the edges have a nice rise (great for holding when not using a knife and fork).
My pizza was quite sweet due to the cherry tomatoes. The shrimp were perfect. It was still juicy and not overcooked. If I have one complaint, I think there are more. The rocket leaves sprinkled on top made it look like I was eating it with a salad.
So, the pizza was very popular. As everyone had had a little more wine, K and I ordered hot chocolates which were not on the menu which was accessible via QR code. However, this was not an issue as the waitress came inside to take our hot drinks. K was instructed to make one “Extra Hot” and I was to make one “Extra Chocolate.” These charges had to be paid separately at the reception before departure.
If you need some inspiration on how your pub or restaurant can accommodate customers over winter, come see how Churchill is doing it in style.
The Churchill Hotel
65 Bootham, Clifton, York
Phone: 01904 644456
W: churchillhotel.com
Food: Good 3.5/5
Service: Excellent 4/5
Atmosphere: Magical 5/5
Value: Fair 3.5/5
Reviews are independent and meals are paid for by the press.
