THE Clink Charity is a nationwide programme aimed at training prisoners in its restaurants before finding them employment in the hospitality industry upon release, helping to cut reoffending rates.
Their latest project at Styal Women’s Prison is already proving a huge success, with lunchtime booked up well into June.
The menu reflects the seasons, with light starters such citrus gravlax and a spring salad with asparagus and fresh peas. Mains are grilled sardines, duck breast and spring veg tagliatelle, with local cheese or a selection of sweeter desserts to finish.
They also do breakfast, but currently there are no evening meals or alcohol.
The HMP Styal restaurant is the fourth from the charity, which helps prisoners work towards gaining nationally recognised City & Guilds NVQs in food preparation and food service.
It is the first restaurant to operate at a women’s prison and comes six years after Alberto Crisci MBE, then catering manager at HMP High Down in Surrey masterminded the idea, which has also taken off at Brixton and Cardiff.
The Clink Charity, HMP Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire East, SK9 4HR, 01625 553 146.