Polpo Exeter opens its doors in March

Russell Norman and business partner Richard Beatty will be opening POLPO Exeter at 18 Higher Market Guildhall, Queen Street in March 2017.

POLPO originally opened its doors in London’s Soho in September 2009.  There have since been seven other branches in London, Bristol and Brighton and the restaurant has won a number of awards including Michelin Guide Bib Gourmands, a CATEY and several trade awards. The POLPO cookbook won Waterstones Book of the Year in 2012.

The Exeter restaurant will follow on from the traditions of its sister restaurants and style itself as a bacaro. This is a Venetian word to describe a humble restaurant serving simple food, and young Italian wines.  Open all day, the menu will feature Venetian classics such as Fritto Misto and Roast Stuffed Pork with Lentils and Radicchio as well as favourites such as Pizza Marinara (£3.80), Crab and Chilli Linguine (£8.00), Pork and Fennel Meatballs (£5.80) and individual Tiramisu Pots (£4.80). There will be, for the first time and exclusively for Exeter, a comprehensive breakfast and coffee menu, to eat in or take-away.

POLPO is modelled on the charming back-street wine bars of Venice. The interiors use a variety of antique and reclaimed materials to create a feeling of faded elegance; deep, button-backed leather banquettes, Victorian glazed tiles, Carrara marble counter tops and salvaged English oak timber.

Unique features for Exeter will include a fully open kitchen, where customers will be able to see their food being prepared from scratch no matter where they are seated in the restaurant or bar. Polpo Exeter will also offer an all-day set menu at £10.90 for 2 courses and £13.90 for 3 courses in addition to the a la carte menu, printed onto Italian butchers paper.

Russell Norman says, “Exeter is a wonderful city full of beauty, culture and charm, and we are extremely lucky to have found a site for POLPO in Higher Market Guildhall.  Being protected from the roads and the sight of cars, combined with our large outdoor terrace, it reminds me very much of the small squares found in Venice. We can’t wait to open our doors this Spring and welcome fans of good food, good wine, Venetian Spritz and old-school hospitality,”

POLPO revels in the Venetian tradition of aperitivo and will be serving Spritz, Campari, Aperol, Negronis and Bellinis all day long. The exclusively Italian wine list begins with POLPO’s own label wines