News: New "Dining Room" experience launching in Rotherham
Something new is being added to the menu in Rotherham. Chef’s Counter, a pioneering local hospitality events company, has announced the grand opening of its first permanent site, and it is set to be in Rotherham town centre.
Not just about culinary excellence, the Sheffield-based social enterprise is dedicated to providing supported employment to individuals interested in pursuing careers in hospitality. With Chris Hanson, who spent seven years at Blend Kitchen, it has been running food events across a variety of underused spaces.
A permanent site is set to open next month inside a former hairdressers in the Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre.
Chef’s Counter has a proven track record of success, having hosted numerous sold-out public dining events in unique venues around Sheffield since its inception in 2023. From American diner food at the Millenium Gallery to a pie and pea super at Samuel Worth Chapel. The bespoke corporate hospitality service, “Business Bites,” has also garnered attention and bookings from across South and West Yorkshire.
Chris Hanson, founder and chef at Chef’s Counter, said: “Since our inception, Chef’s Counter has been about more than just food. It’s about community, inclusivity, and providing opportunities for those facing barriers to employment. With the launch of our first permanent dining room in Rotherham, we’re excited to expand our reach and continue making a positive impact in the region.”
The Victorian, Grade II listed, Imperial Building, was restored by developer, Illiad as part of the Rotherham Renaissance initiative in 2008 creating nearly 9,000 sq ft of retail space and 19 residential apartments around an Edwardian-era arcade with gallery space in the centre.
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In preparation for the opening of a permanent site, Chef’s Counter has launched a crowd funder appeal to raise money for the launch.
The Crowdfunder page reads: "Since our first invite only event in June 2023 and our latest sold out Saturday Night Dinner event in February 2024, Chef's Counter have cooked for over 2,000 people, won the collaboration excellence category at Sheffield Business Awards, had a mention from Jay Rayner in the Guardian, generated thousands of pounds additional revenue for local charities and community groups, created supported employment for 8 people overcoming barriers to enter the workplace (ranging from overcoming substance misuse, homelessness to living with long term mental and physical health conditions) and finally cooked alot of delicious food!
"We now need some help. So far hiring spaces on an ad hoc basis from local charities and community groups has been fine in terms of meeting the demand for our services. The reality now is we're getting busier and busier with more people booking onto our expanded public events programme and companies taking up our delicious business bites offering. So we've decided we need a permanent space that we can use as and when we need it rather than fitting round other groups.
"This year is about establishing Chef's Counter as a regional business, so in our search for a permanent site we've spread our wings a little bit further than Sheffield. We also want to use this opportunity to expand our events programme, create more jobs and bring some life back to areas that have been left behind a bit. We also want to create a model that is easy to replicate in other towns and cities as we continue to grow and expand in the years ahead.
"We're pleased to announce that we have found the perfect space in Rotherham. After viewing several locations over the last couple of months we came across Unit 8, part of the Imperial Building in the centre of Rotherham. We are now in a position to turn the space below into our first Chef's Counter dining room. The space will include a production & development kitchen to service all our upcoming South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire events as well as opportunity for guests to enjoy our food onsite."
Chef's Counter website
Images: Chef's Counter /
Not just about culinary excellence, the Sheffield-based social enterprise is dedicated to providing supported employment to individuals interested in pursuing careers in hospitality. With Chris Hanson, who spent seven years at Blend Kitchen, it has been running food events across a variety of underused spaces.
A permanent site is set to open next month inside a former hairdressers in the Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre.
Chef’s Counter has a proven track record of success, having hosted numerous sold-out public dining events in unique venues around Sheffield since its inception in 2023. From American diner food at the Millenium Gallery to a pie and pea super at Samuel Worth Chapel. The bespoke corporate hospitality service, “Business Bites,” has also garnered attention and bookings from across South and West Yorkshire.
Chris Hanson, founder and chef at Chef’s Counter, said: “Since our inception, Chef’s Counter has been about more than just food. It’s about community, inclusivity, and providing opportunities for those facing barriers to employment. With the launch of our first permanent dining room in Rotherham, we’re excited to expand our reach and continue making a positive impact in the region.”
The Victorian, Grade II listed, Imperial Building, was restored by developer, Illiad as part of the Rotherham Renaissance initiative in 2008 creating nearly 9,000 sq ft of retail space and 19 residential apartments around an Edwardian-era arcade with gallery space in the centre.
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In preparation for the opening of a permanent site, Chef’s Counter has launched a crowd funder appeal to raise money for the launch.
The Crowdfunder page reads: "Since our first invite only event in June 2023 and our latest sold out Saturday Night Dinner event in February 2024, Chef's Counter have cooked for over 2,000 people, won the collaboration excellence category at Sheffield Business Awards, had a mention from Jay Rayner in the Guardian, generated thousands of pounds additional revenue for local charities and community groups, created supported employment for 8 people overcoming barriers to enter the workplace (ranging from overcoming substance misuse, homelessness to living with long term mental and physical health conditions) and finally cooked alot of delicious food!
"We now need some help. So far hiring spaces on an ad hoc basis from local charities and community groups has been fine in terms of meeting the demand for our services. The reality now is we're getting busier and busier with more people booking onto our expanded public events programme and companies taking up our delicious business bites offering. So we've decided we need a permanent space that we can use as and when we need it rather than fitting round other groups.
"We're pleased to announce that we have found the perfect space in Rotherham. After viewing several locations over the last couple of months we came across Unit 8, part of the Imperial Building in the centre of Rotherham. We are now in a position to turn the space below into our first Chef's Counter dining room. The space will include a production & development kitchen to service all our upcoming South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire events as well as opportunity for guests to enjoy our food onsite."
Chef's Counter website
Images: Chef's Counter /
18 comments:
Rotherham town centre is buzzing!
I agree. I think there is new optimism around the town and it's small businesses. It would be nice to see a greater police presence throughout the day as a small group are spoiling things with antisocial behaviour.
I agree, I pass through the town centre daily and the last 3 months I have noticed a young group becoming more and more anti social and I have noticed a big rise in groups drinking in the square near cash converters, also there may be around 10 different beggars now around the centre which is getting worse and worse.
I agree. They should demolish Cash Converters and build a pocket park. Don't think it is just young people at fault though. There are some seriously concerning adults wandering about. I wonder if it is the same down Windsor way. (Not counting the Royal family of course).
It's the megaphone wielding proselytisers that do my head in. I am fed up of reformed drug dealers telling me Jesus died for MY sins. Cos if that's so, it's a bit harsh for not taking a library book back!
Crikey that's right! There's a guy with tattoos covering every mm of his face and neck. Scares the living daylights out of me. In fact there's no way I try for a doctors appointment if he's on duty.
Come back Jez baiter, all is forgiven. Get thissen a spell checker app and get posting again! This blog is not just for literate posters!
Actually I've got more time for the tub thumping Evangelists than the middle class born agains who just stand beside their display of leaflets in bits of the town where nobody ever goes.
One for the oldies!
Jezmond Morris
I Love Lucy
Good singer despite what Eric joked.
What did you do that for Frank?
The bells, the bells!
Don't tread on my tutu
"Oh, the Jezwood Stage is coming on over the hill"
Sorry mate, don't know where your parcel is.
Oh come on!
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