A NEW restaurant launches in the county town today.

Seventy Four, based in the historic site of Judge Jeffreys courtroom in Antelope Walk, Dorchester, opens after an eight-month period of renovations which has cost around £35,000 to complete.

Owner Matthew Turton spoke to the Echo recently about his excitement in offering bespoke menus, and the work carried out to the historic premises, saying: “It’s been a complete renovation that began around August last year.
“We’ll be running it as a function-based restaurant that offers bespoke dining, bespoke menus, as well as street food nights and pop-ups.”

Mr Turton has had around 20 years of experience in the industry as a chef before taking on this venture, which he is relishing. He will be running the business with his partner, Sarah Jackson.

He said: “I’ve been a chef for the past 20 years and wanted to have something smaller for my own. I was a head chef at the Wise Man Inn in West Stafford recently, and more locally was senior sous chef at the Kings Arms in Dorchester on High East Street.

“My kitchen background is working in fine dining, rosette and Michelin kitchens.”

Matthew Turton, owner of Seventy-Four in Dorchester (Image: Seventy-Four) Dating back to the late 1500s, the site was originally the courtroom used by Judge Jeffreys in the Bloody Assizes when in September of 1685, 302 cases were heard, of which a total of 74 of the accused were executed, 175 transported, nine fined or whipped and 54 discharged.

Mr Turton spoke of how important its been to keep the history of the building in tact during renovations, saying: “I saw this place had come up on Rightmove and just wanted to bring this back to life.

“It’s a Grade II Listed Building so renovating it has come with its challenges- we had to strip out the kitchen, take everything as far back as the old wood panelling and we’ve been trying hard to make it a mix of the old and the new.

“We stripped the paint of the chair back and hence why it’s taken around eight months and around £35,000 before we could be ready to open.”

Speaking about the public’s thoughts on the restaurant’s opening, Mr Turton said: “We’ve had really positive feedback so far, and people have been quite excited about the idea of bespoke dining, talking to the chef and making it all about the customer’s individual needs as food has been going in a different direction after Covid.

Speaking about the decision to locate a business to Antelope Walk in Dorchester, which has been filled with a range of vibrant independent shops, Mr Turton added: “The rent has been very affordable, which has made the move quite attractive and made it a key factor compared to the prices in Weymouth.

“The arcade itself is fantastic, and when you’re up in the restaurant you don’t even feel like you’re there anymore, such is the history. We can’t wait.”

The launch night eight course taster menu is set to include the likes of mac ‘n’ five cheese croquette, South Coast lemon sole, Moroccan spiced spring onion & Dorset watercress soup and more.