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The Courtyard restaurant, Wokingham
By Sally Bryant5/12/2008
It is a brave man who not only puts a restaurant in part of a landmark Victorian town hall, but makes it a modern one with glass and industrial piping across the ceiling and not a coat of arms in sight.
When the go-ahead was being sought to do just that in Wokingham, it raised more than a few eyebrows – quite a storm of protest, in fact.
But luckily for this leafy market town, the man with the vision was Paris Livanis. He was armed with his experience of more than a decade as owner of Dolce Vita in Reading, which has won awards for its popularity.
He was also armed with a civil engineering background, which meant his vision of what could be done with the building (“not stuffy and to lighten it”) was more informed than most.
And now, just over three years since the door first opened at The Courtyard, some of the sternest critics from the planning days are regular customers.
The restaurant bustles from morning, when it opens for coffees and pastries, through lunch, then through tea and cakes to evening a la carte.
The old and the new blend beautifully as The Courtyard breathes more life into the town hall’s striking red bricks.
It is a stunning setting for watching the world go by and, when the weather allows, sitting outside to ‘people watch’ in true Mediterranean style.
There is always a steady stream of people taking the opportunity come rain, shine or snow – as ideas for a restaurant go, it is a success.
Paris says: “The setting is lovely with the market, it is so central – people love it.
“The restaurant is informal and Mediterranean, and we keep it that way.
"People like us and hopefully we are on the same wavelength as Dolce Vita.
"It is a nice atmosphere – it is very hard work to keep standards but we have to, and our staff are very good.”
Paris is quick to emphasise The Courtyard is not one of the town’s Italian restaurants.
Although there is a good selection of pizza, pasta and risottos on the menus, there’s plenty more of the best (including a light lunch and salad menus) from the whole of the Med.
Oh yes, and Paris is Greek, not Italian.
He says: “I am the head chef, I go over the recipes and I am the one who shouts in the kitchen! We use local produce, as much as possible, but it is sometimes difficult to get the variety and quality.
“All is ordered the night before and arrives in the morning – fish, fruit and vegetables come from the London markets and meat from Jennings in Reading.
"Our main thing is quality management and freshness, that is the main secret.
"You have to give people quality and simplicity in cooking, that’s the best thing.”
As Paris agrees, creating The Courtyard in this setting was a brave step but no-one regrets it.
“People like it, the town hall likes it, the people who fought us now come and say ‘thank you very much'.
- Read this week's Wokingham Times for an exclusive interview with head chef Paris Livanis and his recipe of Tournedos Rossini with wild mushrooms.
Contact Details
- Address: Market Place
Wokingham
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Most recent user comments 3 of 3
11/12/2008 at 12:08 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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CORRECTION - The man with the Vision was Hadyn Wood of The Sound Foundation and he spent years creating artist impressions and consulting with local shop keepers and residents and negotiating with the Town Council who, in their wisdom, put his ideas out to tender. Check your archive
Mr Paris Livanis has done an amazing job in transforming a tired old space into a stunning contemporary brasserie which looks remarkably similar to the artist's impression commissioned by Hadyn Wood.
10/12/2008 at 12:24 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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5/12/2008 at 12:39 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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