A NEW restaurant, set to open in Whitchurch next month, has seen its opening delayed because of coronavirus.

Wild Shropshire, run by chef James Sherwin, occupies the former Salad Bowl cafe in Green End, and has been under construction for some weeks after planning permission was obtained.

Wild Shropshire is not a typical restaurant, in the sense that it does not follow a fixed menu, rather serves food based on what can be foraged from nature in the surrounding area.

The new restaurant was due to open on Friday, April 3, but will now take place later in the year after the UK Government’s restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the restrictions delaying the opening of the new restaurant, James is remaining upbeat.

“After finally getting permission for the new restaurant we naively thought we were on the home straight and were excitedly getting everything ready for our opening,” said James.

“Then came coronavirus.

“That one word. The one word we hadn’t even heard of six months ago.

“We want to keep everyone updated in this uncertain time but we just don’t know.

“As you’d expect our priority is everyone’s safety and we’d never do anything to endanger that.

“We are thinking of contingencies – perhaps we’ll genuinely have to start bottling and selling our infamous ‘burnt cream’ or hiring [James] out for private dinner parties.

“Our cancellation policy is flexible and there to protect you should you want or need to postpone your booking.

“Many thanks and stick with us.”

For more about what Wild Shropshire has to offer, head to www.wildshropshire.net/