Mariners Galley in Rushall opens as bistro with set menus

Stradbroke couple Amy and Glenn Hoddy are at the helm of Mariners Galley in Rushall near Harleston.

Mr Hoddy was a chef in the Navy for many years and has a passion for food.

"It's all happened so fast," Mrs Hoddy said. "We only started doing pop-up kitchens in February where we served set menus.

Owners Amy and Glenn Hoddy (Image: Mariners Galley)

"And then Glenn saw the café online and we decided to go for it.

"We'd spoken about opening a café one day but didn't imagine it would be this soon."

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"Our first week has been incredible and the online response has been amazing as well."

Blueberry and croissant puddings (Image: Mariners Galley)

The couple are also getting help from their children - Shellie, Laila and Ryan - who will complete an apprenticeship at the eatery which is a café during the day and a bistro at weekends.

Mrs Hoddy, a senior support worker, said: "We wanted to keep it as a café but give it something extra so it will be more of a bistro at the weekends.

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"Glenn is using loads of local produce and making everything from scratch, like all of our sauces and cakes.

"And we're hoping to re-start our monthly kitchen pop-ups in the bistro, so at the end of June we're having a seafood set menu for the evening.

Glenn has a passion for food and has been a chef for many years (Image: Mariners Galley)

"But it's a massive learning curve so we're taking it as it comes and we'll add as we go."

The café can sit 22 inside and has a dog-friendly courtyard seating area outside which can seat another 22.

The Mariners Galley is open from 8am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 3pm Sunday.