Enniskillen chef reveals plans for new restaurant

A former Great British Menu contestant has revealed plans to open a new restaurant upstairs in historic Enniskillen pub Blakes of the Hollow.

Glen Wheeler, who has been running 28 at the Hollow in the bar’s basement for the past 18 months, said that while he does not have a firm date for when Glen at the Hollow will officially open it will be at some point in the new year.

He says it will be a level up from his current offering at 28, with the emphasis on fine dining as part of a tasting menu.

“We have 28 at the Hollow which is in the basement of Blake’s, but then above the bar there is a space over two floors and we are going to do 30 or 35 covers max,” Glen said.

“It will be everything I ever dreamed of or trained for, it’s my dream restaurant.

“I could open it now but it’s not exactly where I want it as far as the interior and a few other things go.

“All in good time, once I’m able to get enough staff and a team built for upstairs then it will allow me to do exactly what I want.

“It will be more fine dining and it will be a set thirteen or fourteen course tasting menu. Smaller numbers and just really good food hopefully.”

Speaking about the success of 28 at the Hollow, which recently picked up a Grub Club award, he added: “We’ve had a really good year, normally come September, October and early November it does dip quite a bit but this year it has held up rightly thankfully.

“It was a challenging year because we’re coming out of all the lockdowns and everything that came with that, but the last six or seven months have been really enjoyable.

“We’re finding it so hard to get chefs, we’ve been crying out the last while trying to get people in and we just can’t get them.

“If there is anyone out there looking to get into the industry I’d welcome them in with open arms to come in and spend a few days and get a feel for it.”