ALTHOUGH Carlisle has a decent food and drink offer, many would argue that its restaurant scene has gaps just waiting to be filled by an entrepreneur with vision - particularly, perhaps, when it comes to certain world cuisines.
But when imagining the future, such a business hopeful may do well to look to the past for some inspiration.
Restaurants close for a myriad of reasons. A significant proportion of them don't last much more than a year.
But for those that capture the hearts of the public, they can blaze bright in folk's memories long after they've closed their doors.
Here are five Carlisle establishments that are missed by our readership.
Foxborough
A barbecue place on Cecil St is fondly remembered by readers. "Food was amazing, such a shame it's gone," said one. The smokehouse joint had a varied menu but espoused a 'slow' approach to cooking - with different meats cooked for hours on a barbecue.
Emperor's Palace
This Chinese restaurant on Warwick Road was also well thought of. Readers liked its authenticity and what's clear from feedback is that the closure of such Chinese restaurants has meant the city's hospitality sector could use more of this kind of business. Which leads us to...
Jade Garden
Another Chinese - this one on Botchergate. It was the prevailing opinion among reader discussion that a lack of 'sit-down' Chinese restaurants - as opposed to takeaways or all-you-can-eat buffets - is an issue that Carlisle currently suffers from. People adored the food at Jade Garden, though its decor was described as 'dated'.
The Shabby Scholar
This Carlyle's Court bar and restaurant shuttered in May 2020, as the Covid pandemic was holding the country in its grasp. At that point it had been going for a respectable seven-and-a-half years and had become well-loved by its clientele. Owner Sam Norman, who at that stage had recently opened Maggie Elliott & the Three Pillars on Devonshire Street, described its cozy atmosphere thus: “We wanted to make the atmosphere like you were in a living room.”
Pancho's
Central America appears to be another gap in the world atlas that Carlisle diners would quite like to see filled in - despite the likes of street food trucks like the excellent Nacho Nacho stepping up to the plate. Pancho's was a vibrantly-coloured Tex-Mex diner on Court Square by the railway station, where Costa coffee is now. People loved its menu and its location - but it wasn't to be.
There are a host of others which didn't make the list: Gallo Rosso. The Lemon Lounge. Benvenuto's. The Highland. Here's hoping that the gaps in the market left by these businesses will soon be closed by a business-savvy chef with a vision.
And what establishments of the present will one day become the much-missed classics of the future's past?
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