Michael Grange, general manager at the Macdonald Randolph Hotel welcomed more than 200 guests to the opening of the Acanthus restaurant and Cartoon Bar in an emotionally charged evening, as the hotel marked a year since a fire tore through its kitchens.

“It was just over a year since the terrible fire caused by a rogue flambé incident devastated the hotel. Who would have thought such a beautiful new restaurant and bar in the form of Acanthus and Cartoon, could rise from the ashes. You will notice that beef stroganoff is not on either menus!

“The team and I here at the Randolph are amazed by what the builders and the contractors have achieved; they have had to source material from around the world to match the original building and use the skills from the time to recreate the stunning roof. It has been their hard work that has enabled us to return the building to its former glory. It has been a monumental undertaking and we greatly appreciate their efforts

The new 90-seat Acanthus Restaurant and Cartoon Bar is part of a £6.5million refurbishment program which the hotel has been undergoing; this has also included a complete makeover of the hotel’s 151 bedrooms.

The name of our restaurant is Latin for thistle and reminds us of our Scottish routes. Acanthus is an all-day dining concept, where our Head Chef Sean Ducie and his team will bringing to life the very best of British produce. Dishes include plump Cornish Oysters, sustainably sourced lemon sole with brown shrimp, earthy woodland mushroom and truffle macaroni and, of course, mouth-watering filet of beef au poivre. Desserts are a delight that include the divine chocolate fondant with salted caramel and chocolate sauce. The day menu also features a number of dishes to share such as a deliciously gooey baked Camembert in hay.

It was a joy at our celebration to watch our special guests enjoy a sumptuous selection of the seasonal treats available on the menu, including canapés such as Crottin goat’s cheese with beetroot, pomegranate and caramelised walnut salad, deep-fried crisp cod cheeks, and a selection of small hot bowls including The Randolph fish pie, and steak au poivre. Much of our produce is organically farmed, free-range and comes from award-winning suppliers. All our white fish is wild and sourced from UK waters and delivered to the restaurant daily.

The new Cartoon Bar is a stylish offering open daily boasting more than 35 gins, an excellent cellar of wines and more than a dozen champagnes, and includes a range of cocktails featuring classics such as the Bellini, as well as house cocktails Oxford Blue Martini, and guests can even jazz up their favourite glass of champagne by adding a dash of our range of liqueurs.

The bar has been named after the wonderful Victorian cartoons which decorate the walls. In addition to our speciality drinks, a full range of cocktails will be on offer with a dedicated menu of bar dishes to compliment them.

The opening of the new restaurant is a great way for The Macdonald Randolph Hotel to start off its 150th Anniversary Celebrations this year. I trust that we will have the pleasure of being of service to you at one of our exciting calendar of events, or just for a bite to eat or drink soon.”