Maltings chef not yet ready for retirement

A Berwick family’s 71-year association with the town’s hotel and restaurant trade is coming to an end – for the time being at least.
David Foxton at The Maltings in Berwick.David Foxton at The Maltings in Berwick.
David Foxton at The Maltings in Berwick.

David and Lesley Foxton finish at The Maltings café on Saturday now that their 10-year lease has expired.

The café will still be open, with staff retained, under The Maltings’ management.

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“I wasn’t ready to go but The Maltings want to renovate and didn’t want to renew the lease,” said David.

His grandparents, Frank and Gertrude Parker, came to Berwick in 1948 to take over The Royal Hotel in Tweedmouth. His mother and father, Peter and Gertrude Foxon, then took on the Hen and Chickens in 1959. The family subsequently took on the Turret Villa Hotel and a café above the Corn Exchange swimming pool.

David opened Foxtons wine bar at Sidey Court in the late 1970s and, after a successful five years, went into the wine trade. Later, he opened Foxtons on Hide Hill before setting off on his travels as a personal chef on board super-yachts.

David and his wife, Lesley, would like to thank their customers for their support. He hopes a new opportunity will arise soon.

“I’m looking to go back to doing some private cheffing and possibly starting a smoke house and pop-up restaurant in Berwick,” he revealed.