Hucknall venue H2O shows off new tapas menu during successful taster evening

A Hucknall bar hosted a taster evening last night (Tuesday 10 May), serving food from its new tapas and street food menu for the first time.

H2O which is on Hucknall High Street, is looking to reinvent itself and move away from its image as a sports bar towards a café/bistro and family orientated venue.

Owners, engaged couple Tavis Beresford and Jay Willows, have endured a tumultuous time since taking over the business four years ago with the Coronavirus pandemic striking British shores not that long after their tenure began.

With pubs and bars forced to close during the first lockdown of March 2020 and then heavy restrictions placed on venues when they were initially allowed to reopen, Tavis had no choice but to get a second job, working in security, to help the family make ends meet.

Speaking about what it was like running H2O during those times, Jay said: "Massively difficult. We've took a massive hit from it and to try and pull yourself back, a lot of people don't want to come out, they've built bars in their garden, they're not coming out to socialise and that's why we're trying to bring something different to coax them out again."

With people across the country now being encouraged to 'live with Covid-19' the owners saw it as an opportune moment to try something different and roll out a new menu.

An example of some of the antipasti choices available. Photo courtesy of H2O.

Tavis and Jay worked together to cook a selection of tapas dishes that were served during the course of the evening.

Before the hot food was served, guests were treated to a range of antipasti choices including a selection of cheeses, salami, Parma Ham, chorizo and nachos with various dips and pickles.

The tapas dishes were cooked there and then so came out in a staggered fashion making it a more authentic dining experience.

Among the dishes served were garlic and chilli prawns, salt and pepper chicken, beef meatballs in tomato sauce, tempura prawns, chicken skewers, calamari, black pudding with chorizo, fish strips, bruschetta, chicken strips and mushrooms in white wine sauce.

Each dish demonstrated excellent cookery and was packed with flavour. Based on personal experience we'd particularly recommend the salt and pepper chicken and tempura prawns.

The tapas choices were delicious. Photo Credit: Tom Surgay.

The staff team, led by bar manager Paul Manders, also deserve a special mention for their slick service. They went above and beyond to make sure each guest was served in a timely manner and never stopped throughout the whole evening, showing their commitment to wanting to make the evening a success.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News at the end of the evening, Jay said: "I think it was a huge success, we had a lot of positive feedback, all the meals went out as planned, everyone's said that they've really enjoyed themselves and are looking to come back in the future, which is obviously the whole aim of tonight.

Asked about why they have decided to introduce a tapas menu, Jay said: "It's just something different, Hucknall's not really got anything like that to offer on the high street, so we thought we'd go down that route, street food etc. It's something everyone can enjoy, they can come at lunchtime, it's nice food that everyone loves.

"A lot of people have moved away from going out to watch the sport, so we're trying to bring something new to Hucknall where people can come and enjoy some nice food, a bit of nice music. We want to move away from the typical late night bar.

Asked about the staff team, she added: "We have got amazing staff, we're like a family, we work as one big unit. We couldn't do it without them they're a big part of what we do. We want to move it forward not just for us but for them as well, give them an opportunity."

The plan is for the new menu to be available seven days a week at both lunchtime and in the evenings.

Inside, H2O has undergone renovation work inside and is a lot lighter and brighter than it was previously. All of this work was carried out by the staff and took almost a week to complete but was definitely worth the hours of effort that it took.

The venue has been redecorated inside and is much lighter. Photo Credit: Tom Surgay.

The ambience of the taster evening was helped by talented local musician Alex Emson, from Hucknall who sang and played an array of songs on his ukulele. He covered artists ranging from Greenday to Abba, Status Quo to Goo Goo Dolls and Kodaline to Paolo Nutini.

Mr Emson, a painter and decorator by trade, has played at other venues in Hucknall including Damo's on Annesley Road and Byron's Rest on Baker Street and was grateful for the opportunity to perform at H2O.

He said: "I used to work here so I've known Tav and Janine (Jay) for a long time. It's brilliant, I'm really enjoying it. I am wanting to get myself out there and play in lots of venues.

"It's really encouraging when people sing along, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up."

Alex Emson performed live. Photo Credit: Tom Surgay.

There is hope that the success of the evening will help bring more customers through the door and that this reinvention will help make it a go to destination for Hucknall diners.

Jay added: "Just come and give us a try and hopefully you'll be impressed and want to come back again. All I want is people to come down, don't judge us on what we used to be, give us a try and see the new H2O because it is bigger and better than ever."

For more information about H2O visit their Facebook page here.