Spalding diners can look forward to 'something completely different'
An ambitious businessman has vowed to ‘push the boundaries’ and offer diners something completely different at the South Holland Centre.
Adam Noble, of Resolution Pubs, is going to open an Italian restaurant and cafe/cocktail bar at Spalding’s landmark arts venue - and has set out a bold vision for the future at the centre.
Moninna’s Ristorante and Pizzeria will operate on the top floor, with the Platter and Pour brand in the former first floor cafe.
The new venture is due to open on October 1 in time for Omid Djalili’s show - the first non-cinema date for the venue since the start of the pandemic.
The team will also run the catering for the function and conference facility at the centre, which has recently undergone a period of managerial change.
Mr Noble - and business partner Aaron Dobson - had been looking for a suitable venue for their Moninna’s brand in Spalding for a while and was inspired to enquire about the South Holland Centre after reading about the council-owned venue in the Free Press.
He said: “I thought it’s got to be a worth a conversation and I have to say the council have been really responsive and open minded
“I think there’s been a missed opportunity in Spalding for a while in terms of lifting standards - by that I mean that I don’t think there’s been something for everybody.”
He praised the work of Hills, the Red Lion and Oscars - and said the trio showed why Spalding is worth investing in.
Mr Noble (37) was born in Spalding, grew up in the town and is a former Gleed pupil.
He did his chef training at the Bull Inn in Pinchbeck before leaving the area aged 21 - and says this venture, which brings 20 jobs, will be extra special for him.
He said: “It is a kind of homecoming really and I will be honest I am feeling the pressure of that a bit. Doing something in your home town comes with a different sense of pressure.
“We are really excited about it - it’s definitely our biggest project. We are just looking forward to get on with it now.”
Moninna’s already operates in Shouldham Thorpe, south of King’s Lynn, and there are plans to grow the brand further, with the likes of Ely and Nottingham among the target locations after Spalding.
Mr Noble has also recently opened Raymond’s Bar & Eatery in Sutton Bridge.
As well as his background in the restaurant world, Mr Noble has contacts in the theatre and cinema sector - and he’s eager to work closely with arts groups who use the centre.
He explained: “We want to work with those guys as much as we can to really bring something different to Spalding.
“This particular project really excites me because we are really going to push the boundaries. It’s no longer good enough to offer good food and drink anyway, it’s about the experience. The options in the function hall are incredible.”
One such idea would be to combine theatre and dining for an immersive show in the style of Fawlty Towers.
Mr Noble is also looking for a venue in Spalding town centre for a new deli too.