Orchid opens 11th Dragon site

The Orchid Group has reopened its 11th Dragon site, a traditional pub with a Thai restaurant in Essex.

The Rayleigh Lodge in Rayleigh formerly served carveries and will now mix classic pub elements, such as cask ale and classic food, with Asian cuisine for a unique eating out experience.

Emma Thompson is the general manager, having completed Orchid's Steps 2 Excellence training scheme.

The kitchen will be headed up by Amnat Yantana, who trained in Bangkok before moving to the UK seven years ago. His signature dish is the Weeping Tiger — galic and light soy marinated sirloin steak topped with mint and flamed with rice wine with sour chilli dressing.

Six chefs will work alongside him — three English and three Thai.

"Everyone here has a real passion for both elements of our offering - the traditional English pub and authentic Thai restaurant - and it promises to be a really special place," said Thompson.

It is the second Dragon style pub and restaurant that Orchid has opened in the Essex area, with a third due to be launched in early September.