How Lathwells got its name
In 1959 my parents bought a farm in Buckinghamshire. Every field in the village had a name, and the one in which the farmhouse stood was called Lathwells – so the farm was called Lathwells Farm. When I bought this restaurant in 2004, I decided to name it Lathwells in memory of my happy childhood at the farm, and in memory of my mother, who was a fabulous cook, hostess, mentor and mother.
John Emms: a life in food
I completed an old-fashioned apprenticeship at the Bell Inn, Aston Clinton in the early eighties, and worked as a chef in both the UK and overseas. I then hung up my chef’s jacket for a suit, working in product development in the food industry. During this time I travelled to many parts of the world looking for new ideas and learning about food trends and consumer needs.
Latterly I worked in the Waitrose division as Head of Food Excellence. Waitrose is my favourite supermarket: I believe the company is the only retailer to be totally ethical in their dealings with suppliers all the way down the food chain, and they also focus on quality and value for money for the customer. (For great recipes and ideas go to www.waitrose.com/food_drink/recipes/index.asp).
In 2004 I was lucky enough to buy Lathwells. I’m passionate about using local produce here. Thinking local is a bit of a crusade with me; local businesses and local people matter too, that’s why as much as I can I’ll buy from them and employ them. Bideford is a place with so much local character; I want to preserve that character, and keep the town thriving, and that’s why I believe that local businesses should put something back into the community. We also do this at Lathwells by supporting a local charity every year.
My food philosophy here is ‘rustic with a twist’: fresh food, cooked and served simply in the rustic tradition, but with a lighter, modern touch – sauces are thickened with vegetable purees rather than flour, for instance. As for the ambience, I’d describe it as a bistro with tablecloths – friendly and informal, with everyone here concentrating on your comfort and enjoyment.