AN award-winning restaurant is gearing up to take over the management of a west Dorset country house café.

Cass Titcombe and Louise Chidgey of Brassica restaurant in Beaminster will be at the helm of The Sawmill Café at Mapperton House from April.

As reported in last week's Bridport News, Brassica was the only restaurant in Dorset to appear in The Sunday Times list of the UK's Top 100 Restaurants in 2017.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke, who runs Mapperton House, the family home of the Earl and Countess of Sandwich, said: "Over just a few short years, Cass and Louise have developed an outstanding reputation at Brassica for delicious food, and this has now been recognised by The Sunday Times in their top 100 listing.

"We are really pleased that they are now partnering with us at Mapperton, and customers at The Sawmill can look forward to scrumptious lunches and teas.”

Mr Titcombe, who is a chef and director at Brassica, is looking forward to getting started at Mapperton.

He said: "We are delighted to be taking over the The Sawmill at Mapperton at a very exciting time.

“We are looking forward to offering visitors homemade cakes, cream teas, a range of light lunch dishes and of course, some memorable sandwiches, all with some of Brassica’s signature touches.”

Ms Chidgey, Brassica director, added: “We have given The Sawmill a small revamp, and put in some new lighting, while retaining its friendly feel.

“We will also be exhibiting artwork from the Room at the End gallery at Little Toller Books at Toller Fratrum, near Dorchester, which we hope our customers will enjoy looking at while they eat.”

The Sawmill will open on Sunday, April 2 until the end of October, every day except Saturdays from 11am to 5pm.

Mapperton Gardens open to the public on Wednesday, March 1 and the house opens for guided tours from April 2. For more information, visit mapperton.com