Whilst other bars have come and gone, RedWillow has become a staple of Buxton’s West End (the area around the Opera House). Duplicating its success in Macclesfield where the RedWillow Brewery is based, the bar has become a welcome feature in Buxton since opening in 2017. Earning multiple CAMRA Pub of the Season awards and consistently winning SIBA accolades over the years speaks for itself.
Perhaps it’s the cheeky novelty of recognisably being a former bank or the cheerful, laid-back atmos or the bewildering choice of tipples on offer, but RedWillow has effortlessly found its own identity and this has become even more evident with its brand new menu. The basic idea is small plates that combine local seasonal ingredients with the flavours and aromas of the food capitals of the world like India, China and Thailand.
Quite wisely choosing to break from the pack, RedWillow was partly famous for its pizzas, but with other pizza joints springing up around it, they are striving to offer something different. So what’s the less than obvious choice for an eclectic bar nestling comfortably in the fashionable part of town? We sent the Explore Buxton team along to find out (they didn’t take much persuasion).
Despite being five o’clock on a cold Thursday, the bar was bustling and a few people had evidently beaten us to trying the new menu. The initial challenge is the choice! Everything on the menu looks like it’s going to take your tastebuds to another dimension. Not only this, you’ll have to decide which wine, beer/ale, cocktail, etc. will go well with it. We guess this is all part of the fun in a bar already synonymous with fun.
Tapas been working successfully in Spain for centuries. We’re a little late to the party in the UK but the idea of small dishes to go with drinks is becoming increasingly popular. It’s ideal for a night out where you don’t want to be slowed down by a single gut-busting influx of carbs and where RedWillow is located, many of the early doors crowd will be pre-show at the nearby theatre and cinema, so it’s perfect.
The Explore Buxton crew dived in and decided to try a handful of the exciting new dishes – (both veggie and meat), and, we were graced by the mastermind chef behind the new menu, Sunitha Southern. Sunitha is already a bit of a celebrity, famous in nearby Bollington for her food truck The Indian Goat, which The Hairy Bikers featured on one of their shows. Sunitha has gone on to open her own mega-successful restaurant, Kira and has been brought in to collaborate with RedWillow. The fusion between the eats and the drinks is no coincidence. It has been carefully considered with almost scientific precision.
Sunitha’s bubbly persona and passion for her carefully created rollercoaster of unique tastes is infectious. Her restaurant’s mantra is “Atithi Deco Bhava” meaning “a guest is akin to god. A place to go when you want to try something a little different, when dining out requires more than just a meal, when it involves new experiences, laughter and cocktails, shared with good friends, and family”. Sunitha is both the unique chef and amusing hostess, keen to share her expertise and love for good food.
Brewery owner Caroline McKenzie said: “Teaming up with Kira to complement the drinks range helps take RedWillow Buxton to the next stage in its journey. The new menu draws inspiration from some of the world’s top food destinations – Japan, China, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. Our ales are all about bold flavours, so we wanted to offer food that pairs perfectly with that same focus on taste.”
Sunday Lunch
If you’re still craving more, Sunitha and her team are now serving up a traditional Sunday Roast Lunch! With a meat and vegetarian option available each week (meat option changes with the season), available every Sunday from 12 – 6pm.
We genuinely loved all the dishes we tried. We’re not experts on where all the different flavours originate from but all agreed on one thing: They were tasty! In fact, we’d even go so far as to say we’ve never had food quite like it. We can’t recommend this fresh new culinary experience enough.
Book tables online
The menu is perfect for snacking and sharing with friends, and it can easily be scaled up for larger groups or Christmas parties as the festive season approaches. You can book tables online, and for groups of 8 or more at: ordertab.menu/redwillowbuxton/bookings
Click HERE to see the menu, which is available from 12pm – 8pm, Thursday – Monday (Sunday 12pm – 6pm). (No food is served on Tuesday / Wednesday currently.)
The bar opening times are Monday – Thursday 12pm – 11pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm – 12am, Sunday 12pm – 11pm.
RedWillow Buxton, 1 Cavendish Circus, Buxton, SK17 6AT
T: 01298 807582
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