First look inside new restaurant The Orange Bird that has opened in Sheffield suburb

After working together at Marmadukes café in the city centre, Anne Horner and Matthew Duggan-Jones have now ventured out on their own to open The Orange Bird at 78 Middlewood Road in Hillsborough.

The pair had hoped to be open in time for this year’s Tramlines festival, but as with many things planned for this year, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed their opening date back and led to the three-day festival being cancelled all together.

The Orange Bird finally opened to the public on November 25, and Anne says their click and collect menu has been well-received by those living in the area.

"Everyone’s been really positive so far, and the people in Hillsborough have been really supportive,” said Anne.

Anne, who has lived in Hillsborough for 19 years, feels the area is in need of more independent restaurants that offer something a little bit different and hopes The Orange Bird might help to fill that void.

The pair have had to create a menu that is conducive with being packed up to take out, and currently centres around “smoky” dishes from their barbeque and delicious flat breads from their pizza oven.

Dishes currently on the menu include Orange Bird fried chicken and spiced butter fries; barbeque pig’s head in Ssam sauce and a leek, bechemel and comte sauce flatbread.

They also offer a selection of cocktails such as a chestnut old fashioned as well as several ice cream dishes with flavours including Christmas pudding, pear and blue cheese and a vegan chocolate sorbet.

The menu has been put together by head chef Matt, and all dishes are made from scratch, using good quality ingredients.

They use a number of Sheffield suppliers including Our Cow Molly for milk, cream and butter, Cupper’s Choice speciality coffee and The Depot Bakery bread and pastries.

Eventually, the restaurant will be able to seat up to 24 customers, and Anne says they hope to regularly update the menu based on what ingredients are available and what is working well.

They are looking forward to being able to welcome people to dine in with them, whenever that might be possible.

Orange Bird is currently open from Wednesday to Saturday, 10am until 2.30pm and 6pm until 9pm.

For more information please visit: http://theorangebird.co.uk/

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