Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant starts 2010 with new look

Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant is starting 2010 with a fresh look, a newly appointed customer services manager and plans for special events over the coming months.

Hay's Dock Cafe Restaurant A major part of the new look are custom made blinds which are woven in 100% Shetland wool.  The blinds were designed by Angharad Mclaren, based on the scarf design she created for the Museum and Archives shop when she was weaver in residence at the Centre for Creative industries in Yell.  These designs draw inspiration from traditional patterns in sample books held in the Museum and Archives collection, as well as the colours of the Shetland landscape.  Angharad explains: “The Shetland Amenity Trust liked my scarves so much they asked me to create blinds for the Café Restaurant.  The design is inspired by the scarves as well as the colourful moors of the isles and influenced by Shetland’s rich textiles heritage”. 

Due to customer feedback, the Café Restaurant also had features fitted to dampen the noise in the space and new colours added to the walls.  Together with the colourful blinds, these changes have been designed to create a warm and vibrant ambience, whilst also providing acoustic absorption to make the Café Restaurant an even better environment for its visitors and staff.

Another change at the Museum and Archives is the appointment of a new Customer Services Manager, Mark Anderson.  His role is to ensure that the visitor experience reflects the high quality of the facilities.   With responsibility for coordination of events bookings, as well as front of house services in both the Café Restaurant and the rest of the building, he will build on the reputation the Museum and Archives already has for quality customer service.  Mark commented: “The Museum and Archives and Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant already have fantastic front of house staff, and I am looking forward to working with both teams.  We will spend the next few months reviewing our procedures and building on our strengths, with a view to improving the customer experience, whether they are booking an event, visiting the building or relaxing in the Café Restaurant.”

Hay's Dock Cafe Restaurant Mike Skinner, Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant Chef Manager, has planned a variety of new dishes and events for 2010 as well as the usual feature menus for those special occasions, such as Valentines and Mothering Sunday.  February 7th will see the launch of Sunday lunch specials, while in March the evening service will include wine tasting evenings and steak nights.  Look out for details of these and other events in the local press or on the Café Restaurant website: www.haysdock.co.uk.

The Café Restaurant is currently open daily 10.30am - 4pm and Thursday to Saturday evenings from 7pm.  However, it can be hired for special functions any day or evening of the week.  Previous events in the Café Restaurant include corporate dinners, wedding functions and musical performances.  If you would like further information on hiring the Café Restaurant please e-mail Mark: mark@haysdock.co.uk or call the Museum and Archives on 01595 695057.  For further information on menus or to book a table for a meal please call the Café Restaurant on +44 (0) 1595 741569. 

Special events during the Hamefarin will be held in Hay's Dock Café Restaurant, details of which will be announced in due course.