Last time I reported I’d heard that Jack & Alice, Wine Bar and Pantry Dining, were taking over from The Botanist at 4 & 5 Town Hall Buildings. The Herald reported on the eatery last week in a NIB (yes, I had to ask, News in Brief). 

I met Vanessa Hall, one of the founders and director, last week. Her husband Mark, a chef, was the other founder, previously a director of other nationally-recognised hospitality companies. 

They have partnered with Tony Gualtieri with a view of carefully expanding the business. I should mention Vanessa told me she felt a bit of a fraud meeting me – it should have been Mark or Tony, she told me. I disagreed.

This is their second branch, the first trading very successfully in Gerrards Cross. So why Farnham? Mark’s mother and sister live here so they visit regularly and love the place. Also, Mark studied at Guildford University so knows this part of Surrey well.

One of the first questions one has to ask is ‘why the name Jack and Alice?’ Well, they are the names of Mark’s grandfather and Vanessa’s grandmother. Both families lived in Harrogate where the grandparents were close friends. The grandmother’s best friends, Vanessa and Mark, went to the same school but didn’t know each other then met by sheer chance in London many years later and things went from there.

The whole Jack & Alice brand is built on family values, trust and, most of all, to tell stories. They plan to provide great food, sourced as locally as possible, but delivered simply, by a fun-loving team creating an experience you will want to come back to again (and again).

Just don’t call them ‘trendy’ – ‘timeless' is the adjective of choice!

The restaurant – and it will be a restaurant, not a bar serving food – has had many original features re-energised. 

Vanessa was particularly enthusiastic about the bar itself, but you won’t be standing at it, she added – seated service only. There will be several nods to their grandparents throughout the space, I was told.

The million-dollar question is when they will be opening. A ‘soft opening’ is set for week beginning June 26, launch on Friday, June 30. Asking about her favourite dish, she said the brunch, but quickly added the cakes. They have their own labelled red and white wines and will also be having a rather good selection of gins. I was told Alice loved her gin.

Farnham BID

I was asked about the Farnham BID a couple of weeks ago and the topic came up again last week. BID stands for Business Improvement District and is a process by which our retail and other businesses take control of, revive and improve their environment. The businesses identify projects which they fund through a levy, agreed between themselves, based on the rateable value of their premises.

Funds can also be drawn through voluntary funding, grants and ‘in kind’ contributions. I recall the figure of two per cent of business rates being mentioned when I attended a meeting, something like four years ago now. 

The businesses are led by a team which comprises a number of local business and council representatives. Some are identified below. 

There is far too much information for me to include here but go to the website at https://farnhambid.co.uk/ to find out more.

A couple of things to close with. The timetable which I discovered in the Farnham BID newsletter conflicts with that on the home page on the website.

The home page indicates the preparation of the Business Plan taking place at the moment, July and August set aside for campaigning and the ballot of the businesses in September.

There are 460 businesses within the BID zone so there is a potential annual BID fund of £340,000. This could be really good for Farnham. 

I suggest we encourage our businesses, existing and new, our town council and town councillors to engage in this initiative. Many other towns have, and have benefited.

Former Bowley’s

I hear from London agents Michael Rogers that there has been some interest in the property at 40 The Borough, but only fast-food outlets, which won’t work for the landlord/building. 

Former Hoxton’s

Commercial agents Park Steele have put the shop at 6 West Street on the market and there has been some interest already.

Tomkinson Churcher

The pop-up poster and furniture business shop at 27A The Borough is no longer displaying there. You can still contact them via their website.

Lion & Lamb Yard

The agent Curchod’s remain upbeat about completing on deals in Lion and Lamb Yard, hoping we will see the units I reported on being under offer and fitted out being occupied in the next couple of months.

Harris + Hoole

Fitting out works at 113B West Street should have started earlier this week. They anticipate opening sometime in July.

Bubble Tea Shop

The ice creams have arrived at Devotea at number 8 East Street.

Brightwells

You no doubt saw the headline in last week’s Herald: Lights, camera & booze ’til late at Reel’? Are Reel serious? Alcohol served until 2.30am seven days a week? This is not central London. If you want to comment, write to Waverley Borough Council at Godalming, email address, [email protected] by June 29.

I have noticed lots of individuals walking around at Brightwells and the appearance of some progress, although I checked out the staircase from the lower deck of the South Street car park last week. 

Was there any progress? I will let you see for yourself...