Reopening of Spalding's Royal Mail Cart is homecoming for Chris Huggett who was trained by former Gordon Ramsey's head chief Adebola Adeshina

The reopening of Spalding’s The Royal Mail Cart will be something of a homecoming for new general manager Chris Huggett.

Chris, who is also the head chef, has returned to the town where he grew up - and will now be busy in the kitchen of a venue all too familiar to him.

“I used to come here for a drink and to play pool,” the Three Rosette chef reminisced, although with the venue undergoing refurbishments ahead of its Friday2 reopening the place will look very different to how Chris remembers.

In his almost 30 years away from the town, Chris was trained by Gordon Ramsey’s former head chef Adebola Adeshina, also working in the kitchens of The Olive Branch in Clipsham and Oundle’s Chequered Skipper.

Chris’ background in very high dining saw him also run a pop-up called Ora Cultro (Latin for The Edge of the Knife).

Now Chris (50) is looking forward to serving up the recipes he has worked on over the past decades at the Pinchbeck Road venue.

“I want to serve food with a bit of a twist,” he explained.

And that will certainly be the case with some of the mouthwatering plans he has for the menu.

A mixture of meat, vegan and vegetarian dishes will be on the lunch and evening menus, where traditional favourites are given Chris’ own personal touch.

Among the options to be expected will be pan fried seabass with muscles and crushed new potato, giant meatballs of brisket and pork, shepherd’s pie with confit lamb, winter night chilli with pork belly and traditional favourite fish and chips - with a batter recipe Chris have vowed to never share.

Ham fritters with cheese fondu sauce, soft scotch eggs, pork crackling served in a beer glass with apple sauce and salt and pepper squid are just some of the bar snacks to whet the appetite while timeless pub grub such as sandwiches will also be available.

The Royal Mail Cart will also offer Sunday lunches, with plans to introduce breakfasts soon.

Food will be served from Wednesdays to Sundays while there are plans to extend to seven days in the near future.