Boutique French restaurant adds to Beverley dining options

Khaled Bouhenache is creating a new French restaurant for Beverley. Picture courtesy of Hull Daily Mail.

A RESTAURATEUR who opened Hull’s only boutique French restaurant more than two years ago has confirmed plans to expand into Beverley after agreeing a lease on a venue which was hugely popular with diners in the town.

Khaled Bouhenache, who opened Cognac in Chanterlands Avenue, Hull, in March 2015 is currently refurbishing the former Rolando’s restaurant in North Bar Within. He plans to open Fleur De Lis in September.

Paul White, Agency Director at Garness Jones chartered surveyors, said the project is a welcome addition to Beverley and was agreed after bids from other operators were turned down.

He said: “We had interest from other people but they were proposing ventures which were very similar to what Beverley already has. We have confidence in Khaled because he already has an established business and his plans are for something new and different.

“There has been a lot of new restaurant activity in Beverley in recent years with different types of cuisine and price levels helping the town build a reputation as a destination for discerning diners. Fleur De Lis is in a particularly attractive part of Beverley and will be an exciting new addition to the array of international dining options.”

Khaled created eight jobs with the opening of Cognac and he expects a similar level of recruitment for Fleur De Lis, including two specialist chefs from France.

He said: “Many of my customers at Cognac come from Beverley. They tell me how busy the town is and that it is crying out for a boutique French restaurant. Fleur De Lis will be different, a slightly higher standard than Cognac, and I hope people will visit both of them.

“We opened Cognac because there wasn’t a boutique French restaurant in Hull and it has worked very well. Now we want to do the same in Beverley, with authentic French food and high quality continental service.”

Garness Jones manages the properties at Chanterlands Avenue and North Bar Within for the respective landlords. Paul said: “Beverley is getting busier with a number of new housing developments around the edge of the town and the centre is attracting more investment as a result of that.

“North Bar Within has a cluster of good quality bars and restaurants which will benefit from the recent investment in the Rose and Crown pub and the opening next year of the Beverley Arms Hotel.”