Get ready for a summer of grub with new Wokingham bistro

A FEAST fit for a chef is coming to Wokingham next month.

Hamlet, a new deli-bistro, is preparing to open its doors in Peach Place soon – and the owners said they want to offer high quality food that can please the most professional of cooks.

The new eatery is being launched by co-founders Robert Chasteauneuf and Daniel Hardman, who have worked together for nearly 10 years and have spent around 40 years in the food industry combined.

“We’ve both been chefs since we left school,” Mr Chasteauneuf explained. “We’ve worked everywhere from Michelin star restaurants to hotels, and local pubs to start-ups.

“The one thing connecting us has always been food and the aspiration to progress into our own business.”

Now, the two chefs want to bring “casual dining” to Wokingham with their “simple, ingredient-led menu”.

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“At Hamlet, we want to cook with seasonal ingredients to showcase the UK’s great local produce,” Mr Chasteauneuf explained. “We want to create an atmosphere where people can come and have a great dining experience.”

And while by night, relaxed dining will be on the menu, by day the co-founders want to offer an even more casual atmosphere with an on-site deli and coffee shop.

“We want to help people access our produce when it suits them,” Mr Hardman explained.

According to Mr Chasteauneuf, the deli will offer a range of bespoke wines, cheeses and meats, while the coffee service will provide a range of roasts, cakes and pastries.

“And in the summer months, we want to offer bistro-style dining for a couple of nights a week,” he added. “People will be able to sit and eat at the bar, and we can showcase our cocktails and charcuterie.”

And it’s good news for local suppliers too, because Hamlet’s co-founders said they would like to showcase produce from small businesses.

“Locally, we have a massive amount of great suppliers,” Mr Chasteauneuf explained. “We want to offer their products which you might not find in a supermarket.”

Now, as Hamlet nears its grand opening, the duo have been looking back on their journey and said launching the restaurant has not been easy.

“Dan and I have been planning this for many years, and we took our time to find the right unit, town and demographic,” Mr Chasteauneuf said. “Lockdown has given us the opportunity to not be rushed, and the town centre regeneration has been a massive blessing.

“We’ve got a great space inside, and an amazing area out front.”

“We cannot wait to open,” Mr Hardman added.

Covid-permitting, Hamlet is due to open its doors in late May.

To find out more, visit: hamletwokingham.co.uk