Fine-dining restaurant with 14-course tasting menu to open in Northumberland with hopes of a Michelin star

A new fine dining restaurant is set to open in Alnwick next month and its owners have high hopes that they will bring the county its third Michelin Star.

Couple Gary McDermott, 38, and Claudia Mazareanu, 42, will open Sonnet on Bondgate Without in Alnwick on February 8. Focusing on simplicity, they hope that their 14-course tasting menu can have them “competing with the big boys” when it comes to the county’s restaurant offering.

Gary, from Sacriston, County Durham; and Claudia, from Romania; moved to Northumberland in August 2023 after four-and-a-half years managing The Horse and Groom in West Sussex, getting the country-style pub recognition in the Michelin Guide in 2022 and 2023.

While they created a foodie destination in their time there, they grew tired of staffing issues and not being able to take time off and “recharge their batteries”. When visiting Northumberland last year for Gary’s brother’s wedding, they fell in love with the county, and Alnwick in particular.

Now, they hope to bring fine-dining to East Northumberland the way that Pine and Hjem have to Hadrian’s Wall Country. Gary told ChronicleLive: “We want to be put in the same category as Pine and Hjem.

“Two fantastic restaurants, they are the pinnacle of Northumberland, they’re unbelievable. And we would like to compete with the big boys at the top.”

Focusing on simplicity, Gary and Claudia plan to take the flavours and produce of Northumberland to give diners familiar flavours in a fun and refined way. Dishes on their menu include “French Toast”, a cheese and onion pasty, and “sweeties”.

Chocolate and Miso, one of the dishes on the menu at Sonnet

Gary continued: “It’s hard to explain, it’s simplicity really. We’re going to use the best ingredients that we can source in Northumberland to make things that we feel people know they’re flavours they’re looking for, just done a little different.

“We’re not going to be all white tablecloths and la-di-da, but there will be a lot more refinement and it’ll be fun. It’s 14 courses of mind-blowing food, but it’s flavours we hope customers will understand.”

The 38-year-old, who trained at Bistro 21 in Durham and Rockliffe Hall, is delighted with the reaction in Alnwick since bookings opened up. Around 100 people have already made reservations since the website went live.

Chef Rhys Veal, who has worked with Claudia and Gary for four years

Sonnet is just one part of an exciting 2024 for the market town. The Alnwick Story Fest returns in February, while the luxurious Bailiffgate Hotel has been earmarked for a summer opening.

This is in addition to the increase in visitors from Lilidorei, which opened in 2023, and more established attractions such as Alnwick Castle, The Alnwick Garden, and Barter Books.

Gary finished: “I just think Alnwick as a town is brilliant. The high street in most areas is dead but in Alnwick, it’s coming alive.

“I think the development around Alnwick is brilliant and the new hotel will bring in a lot of tourists, and Lilidorei and the gardens, that attraction is just unbelievable.

“I think for us to be just a little restaurant stuck in the middle of it, it’s brilliant.”

Sonnet opens in Alnwick on Thursday, February 8, 2024. The full 14-course tasting menu is priced at £85 and a lunch menu, served from Wednesday to Saturday between 12pm and 2pm, is priced at £35.