Kooks

Gardner Street, Brighton, 01273 673045

WHEN it came to creating his first restaurant with wife Rebecca, Tim Healey knew exactly the clientele he was looking for.

In fact he put it in the restaurant name.

“We are creative eccentric types, who have landed here in a creative eccentric city,” he says.

“We could be described as a couple of kooks, and we would like kooky people to be comfortable here.”

And it seems to have worked.

The 50-capacity Kooks has been in the former site of the Temptation Cafe, on the corner of Gardner Street, since May, and it has already become something of a meeting place for likeminded people.

“Since we opened we have had a number of touring rock bands, a well-known UK hip-hop act, and a number of faces from TV comedy and drama come in for food and drink,” says Healey.

“They are clearly finding the ambience, service and food to their taste – so we must be doing something right!”

A former touring DJ, Tim has lived in Brighton for the last 16 years. Rebecca has worked as a financial controller for various companies, as well as managing and working front and back of house at restaurants.

For their first project together Healey was keen to stamp their own imprint on the venue, from the music-inspired artwork decorating the whole of the restaurant, to the framed album sleeves on the wall and his home-made menu covers.

Even the music which soundtracks the restaurant throughout the day is an eclectic mix from Tim’s own record collection – ranging from Malian music to FKA Twigs, to Grimes, to David Bowie whose song lent the restaurant its name.

The ethos is a mix of friendly cafe and fine food restaurant. There are bottles of ketchup on the table and breakfast is served until 5pm on weekdays.

But the evening menu also offers spiced green lentil salad with red onions, baby spinach and mango for £11, chicken in parmesan, herb and breadcrumb crust with orange, fennel, quinoa and leaf salad for £13 or spinach, ricotta and vegetarian parmesan gnocci with roasted goats cheese, peppers and rocket for £10.50.

That’s not to say there isn’t room for what Healey describes as “one of the best, if not the best burger in Brighton” for £12, or haddock in batter for £13 in what may be an eclectic, but carefully refined menu.

The puddings were a chance for Tim to have fun and bring in some of his favourites.

“I spent ten years DJing in Brazil and spent all my time there having crème caramel for breakfast,” he says. “We have a Brazilian crème caramel on the menu [pudim de leite £5.50] as well as key lime pie [£5.50].

“We’re proud of the food and constantly refining it. It’s all about fresh ingredients. We have vegetarian and gluten-free options.

“We tried to think about things that people find comforting and really enjoyable.”

With the bar the first thing most customers will see on entry the drinks menu is also a labour of love. There is a range of red and white wines available both by the bottle and the glass, a mix of craft ales and local Dark Star beer, and an extensive range of spirits.

“We have got a licence for cocktails,” he says. “People can sit outside and drink champagne.

“We want all our customers to feel completely relaxed and well looked after no matter what. A mistake can be an opportunity to win customers for the future.

“We want feedback from customers and get it right by keeping tweaking the variables.”

Breakfast is winning many repeat customers.

And the restaurant’s location not far from the city’s cultural quarter is seeing diners coming in ahead of shows at Theatre Royal Brighton, the Dome and nearby Duke’s At Komedia Picturehouse.

“We will be having special nights,” says Healey.

“We want to welcome in local businesses. We’re exploring bar snacks and tapas.”

Open daily 10am to 11pm. Visit www.kooksrestaurant.com