ATLAS, a standalone 584 square meter pavilion restaurant is the centrepiece of James and Maria Close’s project to transform the five-star hotel and golf resort Rockliffe Hall into a world-class, gastronomy-focused destination.
James was the first chef in the North East to be awarded two Michelin stars at Ruby Hunt, one of just 20 two Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK. With ATLAS, he’ll be stepping back onto the scene, aiming to match that greatness with a fresh concept. He is joined by his wife Maria, a Cordon-Bleu trained pastry chef who will also head up development.
The pair are joined by a star-studded team with extensive culinary and five-star hospitality experience: Adam Holley as executive chef, Shaun Hurrell as Head Chef, Manuel Ghezzi as head of wine and Jack Adams as restaurant director. Holley came from Ruby Hunt where he spent over 7 years together with James. Shaun owns two award-winning Mexican restaurants in the North East. Ghezzi was previously head sommelier at the Connaught and will build an extensive wine-list for Atlas, combining established old and new world regions with less obvious producers to match the restaurant’s global outlook.
Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped backstage, with visible ageing fridges, citrus fridges, and floor to ceiling spice walls. ATLAS has a minimal, warm design characterised by distinctive architectural lines and sweeping views across the estate.
The experience starts out in a Champagne and aperitif lounge, with a dedicated mixologist. The dining room features three open kitchen islands and a six-seat chef’s table. The dishes on the ATLAS menu arrive in curated sequences and are designed to reflect the flavour and emotions that James and Maria encountered on their travels. Ingredients are chosen for their specific locations, including oysters from their visit to La Rochelle.