Polly’s Kitchen café opens doors on Middlegate, Newark

A new coffee shop has opened its doors — aiming to bring local produce, homemade food, and a ‘luxury’ bar to the town centre.

Polly’s Kitchen opened on Middlegate on Monday December 16, in the premises formerly occupied by Stray’s, and has grand plans to bring a new offering to Newark.

A prosecco and gin bar is also due to open towards the end of January, aimed at drinkers over 21 who want to enjoy “a bit of luxury”.

It initially plans to open until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The venture was set up by Adam Docherty, of Birmingham, who decided to take on the building after visiting it with a business partner in property investment.

The café has been named after Adam’s partner, Polly.

Local produce and staff are key to the venture, with coffee, food, and cakes all from Nottingham-based suppliers, and staff recruited from the Newark area.

“We’ve got some really, really good coffee, we’ve tried about 70 coffees,” Adam added.

“We’re going for the cakes, sandwiches and paninis for your lunches.

“I’ve gone for a young chef who’s got a load of ideas and just needs an opportunity. He was a pastry chef originall,y so he’s going to bring in the pastry side of it and he’s going to expand the menu.”

As the menu develops there are plans for home-baked goodies such as pasties and sausage rolls, and hot breakfasts including bacon and egg rolls and full English breakfasts — and there are also plans to introduce bistro nights on a weeknight.

Looking forward, once additional work has been completed to renovate the listed building, Adam hopes to open a ‘Newark Gin’ distillery to produce alcohol to sell both on his own bar and to supply to others.

“We just thought a gin distillery would be nice, it’s something different,” he added.

There is also hope that if this first premises is successful, more Polly’s Kitchens could be opened between Newark and Birmingham.