Furnace Kitchen scoops restoration award

The restaurant which is operated by chef Marcus Bean won the best change of use for an existing building in the West Midlands category at the recent Local Authority Building Control’s Building Excellence Awards.

The restaurant which opened last year is located in the former Long Warehouse of the historic Coalbrookdale Company, where railway wagons were loaded with their products.

It has been designed to blend in with the historic site with open brick work, exposed concrete and wood and also features tiles from nearby Jackfield Tile Museum.

The award recognises the transformation of the site from a disused building into a flourishing restaurant.

Mr Bean said: “This is tremendous news for everyone involved with the project to transform this building and create a destination restaurant at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge.

”I was involved in the design and creation right from the beginning, working closely with our architects Osbornes in Worcestershire. We always wanted to create a space that complemented the existing building, using local trades and our in-house building team to deliver our vision.

“The feedback we have received over the last 12 months for the way the building has been brought back to life has been tremendous, and this award is the icing on the cake. We are thrilled to have been so successful.”

The kitchen has proved a huge hit with both the public and museum visitors alike for its exciting mix of modern British cuisine and European classics.