Edinburgh’s Hendersons vegetarian restaurant has reopened on Barclay Place after the original on Hanover Street closed last summer. It was founded in 1962 by Janet Henderson, and her grandson Barrie has now taken on the business to ensure Janet’s legacy will live on.
Barrie said, “After the amazing support we’ve received from our Edinburgh community, we’re really looking forward to opening. The chefs are excited to reveal new dishes that complement the vintage dishes we’re bringing back.
“The menus are going to be refreshed with the seasons, as well as in response to feedback from customers, so expect to see a revolving selection of dishes over the coming months, featuring old favourites and new creations.”
Sourcing is at the forefront of the kitchen philosophy, with everything made from scratch using local, seasonal ingredients.
Barrie and his partner Clara have cultivated a small fruit, herb and vegetable garden behind the restaurant, where they are growing as much as possible to sustain the kitchen. The launch menu has five varieties of heritage potatoes grown in the garden, to be used in a salad with spring onion, chives, parsley, capers tossed in the house dressing.
The harmonising of old and new is also reflected in the restaurant’s interiors, with many echoes of the Hendersons of old resonating throughout the space. The walls have been given a textured feel, and an archway has been created as a nod to the original restaurant.
Natural, sustainable materials are used throughout with a focus on wood, highlighted by original restaurant tables from the 1970s in the main dining space. The aprons worn by front of house staff were designed and made by Barrie’s partner Clara.
The overall muted colour palate is accented with retro-inspired motifs in yellow, blue and red, displayed in a hand-painted mural.
A wall of dried foliage that featured in the Hendersons of the 1990s was the inspiration for the abundance of dried British wheat, barley, broom, hops and birch leaves that adorn the walls, ceilings and tables.