By Duncan Atkins

Copyright thescarboroughnews

The Supper Club is run by Andy Oliver and Liz Druce and they opened this past weekend (Sep 5-6) selling home-cooked Mediterranean food, with music and art also key components of what they are offering. Food is locally sourced – from Radford butchers over the road from them in Sleights, Whitby Seafish at Staithes, cheese from Botton Village, apples from an orchard at Grosmont, among others – so that Andy and Liz can share the story behind it and say which families make the produce they use. Their first night was a sell-out, with a “cosy but lovely” feel. Liz said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from local people and wanted it to be for locals. “People seemed to feel that they needed something like this. “You might be sat next to a couple you’ve never met before but you might leave as friends. “It’s good fun and we’re quite privileged to be able to do it. “And being Yorkshire, we are known for our portions!” Andy added: “It’s Yorkshire produce done in a Mediterranean style – last week it was Italian, this week it’s French. “If you want to dress up to the nines you can, if you want to come straight from gardening in jeans and Wellies, not a problem.” Samples from the French Supper Club menu choices include creamy chicken tarragon, baked brie en croute and beef bourguignon for mains, and Cointreau and chocolate mousse or tarte au citron for dessert. It’s that relaxed, continental feel they are trying to get across. “It’s the same feeling as you get on holiday when you go abroad and find that taverna on the first night and go there for the rest of the week,” said Andy. The Supper Club, which seats 24, features an art corner which is currently exhibiting work by Louise Garrett, who lives near Grosmont. The exhibition will change every four to six weeks. Andy said: “There is also a space for live music which will grow. “We want to encourage people to come and listen to live music but give younger musicians a comfortable environment in which to play. “We’re not pretentious at all about it, it’s a shared space for the community. “We have local groups who want to use it.” The business offers light lunches and drinks from 1pm to 5pm Saturday and Sunday, and the Supper Club from 6.30pm to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday, with food on the evening served at around 7pm – the table is yours until close. Friday is Upstairs at Andy’s from 5.30pm to 10pm with nibbles and artisan cheeses, while there is a special menu of the day from 1pm to 10pm on Monday. There are vegetarian and vegan options too. They are also continuing to offer a delivery service which they did before taking on the Sleights venture, but on a fortnightly rather than a weekly basis. “We’ve got an enthusiasm for food and want to enthuse others,” Liz added. “I’ve been doing events for a long time so it’s nice to have this as a business and to feel like it’s the right place for it.”