Plymouth’s newest foodie destination which offers a unique dining experience with tables situated under 12 historical naval figureheads suspended 10 meters above diners’ heads in a 5-story glass and steel atrium

The largest arts and heritage museum to open in the UK in 2020, The Box in Plymouth, is delighted to announce the launch of The Little Box, a stylish new steel and glass café just across from its main building on Tavistock Place offering a range of hot drinks and “grab and go” food for visitors with seating both inside and outside.

The Little Box serves sandwiches, cake, pastries, scooped ice cream, hot and cold drinks and a small range of alcohol. Freshly made milkshakes and bagels will follow later in the year. Like its big brother, The Box Kitchen & Bar, the menu showcases local food and drink suppliers and tasty produce from the South West.

The Little Box’s delicious selection of cakes come from the Exploding Bakery in Exeter with vegan offerings from Heyl Bakery based in Plymouth. Soft drinks come from Luscombe Drinks in Buckfastleigh, coffee comes from Voyager Coffee based in Exeter and milk and cream from Trewithen Dairy in Lostwithiel.

The Little Box’s ice cream offering comes from local Devon ice cream makers Langage Farm – flavours available include Gin & Lemon, Blackberry & Apple Crumble, Bourbon Vanilla Pod and Chocolate Brownie. Visitors can enjoy an ice cream sitting outside on a deckchair this summer as they soak up the atmosphere in Tavistock Place – the new public square created by The Box which connects its main building and the beautifully restored St Luke’s church.

The Little Box is overseen by The Box Kitchen & Bar’s head chef Ben Mack who is also in charge of the seasonal menu at The Box Kitchen & Bar which changes monthly.

The Box Kitchen & Bar is a foodie destination in itself. Situated under the gigantic steel and glass cantilevered roof of Plymouth’s state-of-the-art award winning museum, the Kitchen & Bar is a stylish setting to enjoy breakfast, coffee and cake, freshly made lunch as well as evening cocktails and affordable fine dining. The Box Kitchen & Bar offers evening dining on Fridays and Saturdays, can cater for weddings and also runs a monthly foraged food supper club.

The menus, devised by Mack who has previously worked at River Cottage, use fresh locally-sourced ingredients and change monthly – an example of some dishes from recent menus includes:

Breakfast

• The Breakfast Flatbread: Spicy tomato salsa, cheddar cheese, fried egg, guacamole, sour cream, coriander
• Pancakes: 3 American style pancakes, maple syrup with blueberries or smoked bacon

Lunch

• Piquillo pepper & courgette Linguine: Ricotta sauce, fresh herbs
• Lunchtime Flatbreads: Chicken shawarma, sriracha, yoghurt, pomegranate, coriander
• Chargrilled squid: Red pepper dressing, dressed rocket
• Fish ‘n’ chips: Battered MSC certified cod, hand cut chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce, lemon

Dinner

• Miso & Mushroom Broth: Udon noodles, shiitake mushrooms, jack fruit, beansprouts, bamboo shoots, spring onion
• Duo Of Pig & Crackling: Potato terrine, apple, ginger, crackling crumbs, jus
• Crab & Salmon Fishcakes:, Thai scented bouillabaisse, spinach, poached egg

Cocktails

• The King Louis: Tequila, Cointreau, Orange Syrup, Bitters
• Made in Chelsi: Rum, Blue Curacao, Pineapple Juice, Coconut Milk

Ben Mack, Head Chef at The Box Kitchen & Bar and The Little Box said: “Plymouth is one of the most exciting destinations in the South West of England, and The Box is its star attraction. I’m thrilled to be at the helm of a restaurant that’s not only set in a stunning location, but where fresh, locally sourced produce is the focus, offering good quality, flavoursome but also affordable food. The Little Box extends our offer even further and I can’t wait to see people outside in the sun enjoying our food.”

www.theboxplymouth.com

About The Box

The city of Plymouth has undergone transformational change with the £40+ million construction of The Box, a major new museum, art gallery and archive that has transformed the former City Museum and Art Gallery, Central Library and St Luke’s church buildings, to create new galleries and exhibition space, a striking elevated archive, learning and research facilities, a new public square, a shop, a Kitchen & Bar and The Little Box cafe.

At the heart of The Box’s ethos is the conservation, heritage and preservation of Plymouth’s rich history and heritage. The venue brings together six outstanding national collections in a new and sustainable home, including objects from Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, archives from the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office and film and photographs from the South West Film and Television Archive and the South West Image Bank.

Proudly led by Plymouth City Council, The Box is a partnership with the University of Plymouth, the South West Film and Television Archive, the South West Image Bank and the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Major funders include Plymouth City Council, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.