WE GET A TASTE OF THE NEW SESSIONS RESTAURANT IN LINCOLN

Last night, one of our Associate Directors, Lewis Potter, joined The Lincoln College Group for the reopening of the Sessions Restaurant. The VIP event, hosted by Michelin Star chef, James Mackenzie, celebrated the completion of the large-scale project to transform the existing premises and establish a new culinary finishing school.

Sessions Restaurant has always served up something different for Lincolnshire diners. The restaurant, owned and operated by The Lincoln College Group, provides a wholly unique environment that gives its customers a relaxing atmosphere, and the students who serve up this food the chance to work and train in a commercial kitchen environment as part of their culinary studies.

The unique concept has been in operation since March 1998, therefore this year marks the restaurant's Silver Jubilee in its current location and has been a real success. Rated 5 stars on Trip Advisor, the restaurant serves a fine dining experience for a fraction of the usual price. For the chefs and wider team that work there, it helps them to gain essential experience of a live restaurant environment whilst completing their qualifications and moving on to employment.

After 25 years of successful operation, out-growing their existing premises and in need of renovation, the opportunity arose to redevelop the restaurant environment and kitchens as part of a Town Deals funding grant. The Lincoln College Group were able to completely renovate their existing Monks Road premises, as well as acquiring a new restaurant located at the Old Bakery on Burton road, which will be used as a culinary finishing school.

Working to a tight programme of development, Banks Long & Co were awarded the contract to provide project management and quantity surveying services, working alongside the main contractor Gelder Group with Core Architects, Tynan Design and Hunter Johnson providing design. 

The programme of works, appointed in mid December, needed to be completed by the end of February, to coincide with the start of the new term so that the students could quickly get back into the commercial kitchen environment as part of their studies.

Delivering the programme of works, on time and under-budget, included the fitting out and installation of brand new commercial catering equipment provided by Sylvester Keal, alongside developing new areas, namely a mixology room and a barista area. 

Lewis Potter, Associate Director working for Banks Long & Co, Senior Quantity Surveyor & Project Manager commented “This has been a really exciting project to work on. The Lincoln College Group has significantly invested in the quality of education and the infrastructure of their campus for many years now. This most recent investment continues to further prove their ongoing commitment to investing in Lincolnshire and providing their students with incredible facilities to support their education.”

Nick Pettit, Head of Estates Development at Lincoln College, commented “From start to finish Banks Long & Co have provided excellent advice on procurement, delivery and the handover period. Acting as both PM and QS has helped deliver this project on time and within budget. As the client, they have made the journey very clear and simple at every stage. I fully recommend Lewis and his team at Banks Long & Co. “

If you would like to experience the new Sessions Restaurant, you can contact the team or visit them at Sessions House on Monks Road, Lincoln.