A long-held dream for owner Matt Fowles, this restaurant and cellar door (700-person capacity) arrived at Hateley without complete plans, allowing us to embed ourselves into the design thinking and material selections from the outset to bring the farm’s character into every detail. Panoramic dining views sit behind full-height glazing, with polished concrete floors, timber booths and textured glass screens creating a warm, utilitarian rhythm. Outside, corrugated gabled forms and generous terraces echo the rural sheds in the landscape. With evolving plans and a tight budget, we collaborated closely – repurposing vineyard trellis timber into dining tables and custom joinery – so the building feels unmistakably Fowles: honest, crafted and ready for a full house!
