Business Details
Your Ultimate Dining & Event Destination in Hitchin
Established in the heart of Hitchin, Hermitage Rd is a distinguished restaurant and bar housed in a historic ballroom, blending rustic charm with modern hospitality. Our culinary team, led by Head Chef Oli Sturt, crafts innovative dishes using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, ensuring a menu that caters to diverse palates. With accolades for our service and a commitment to community, we offer a unique dining experience complemented by a vibrant wine bar, coffee shop, and versatile meeting spaces.Our dedication to quality extends to partnerships with ethical suppliers, such as Pact Coffee, and supporting local charities through 5% of gift card proceeds. Under the leadership of General Manager Riju Joy, we combine expertise in fine dining and hospitality to create memorable experiences for every guest.
Services
Restaurant
Bar
Coffee Shop
Wine Bar
Meeting Rooms
Private Hire
Gift Cards
Loyalty Program
Event Planning
Coffee & Bagels
Highlights and features
- We offer seasonal menus crafted by award-winning chefs using local ingredients.
- Our team includes hospitality experts with experience at The Ritz and Michelin-starred venues.
- We provide versatile spaces for dining, meetings, and private events in Hitchin.
- Our loyalty program rewards customers while supporting local charities.
- We partner with ethical suppliers like Pact Coffee for exceptional quality.
What people say
Exceptional seasonal dishes
Historic ballroom ambiance
Knowledgeable sommelier
Vibrant coffee hub
Versatile event spaces
Services
Restaurant
Our restaurant serves seasonal British cuisine in a historic ballroom setting. Led by Head Chef Oli Sturt, we use locally sourced ingredients to create innovative dishes for lunch, dinner, brunch, and Sunday roasts. The menu features Herefordshire Beef Carpaccio, Norfolk Bronze Turkey, and desserts like Black Forest Mousse, combining tradition with modern flair.
Wine Bar
The Wine Bar offers handpicked global wines, cocktails, and small plates in an intimate atmosphere. Curated by Sommelier Yana, it hosts monthly wine tastings and private events. Exclusive hire packages include a Magnum of Nyetimber, making it ideal for celebrations and tastings in Hitchin's premier wine destination.
Coffee Shop
Our Coffee & Bagel Bar serves ethically sourced Pact Coffee, fresh bagels, salads, and pastries daily. Led by Phill, it provides a vibrant workspace with meeting rooms for hire. The loyalty program rewards regulars with exclusive benefits, enhancing the experience for locals and visitors seeking quality coffee and casual dining.
Meeting Rooms
Three purpose-built meeting rooms (Robusta, Arabica, Liberica) accommodate 616 people with AV technology. Located within the coffee shop, they offer privacy for business meetings, workshops, or celebrations. The Coffee Shop itself is available for evening private hires, ideal for book launches and corporate events in Hertfordshire.
Private Hire
Hermitage Rd provides exclusive spaces for weddings, Christmas parties, and corporate events. The main restaurant seats large groups, while the Wine Bar offers chic private hire for up to 14 guests. Custom packages include festive menus, canaps, and live music, ensuring memorable occasions with tailored service in Hitchin's most distinctive venue.
People
Riju Joy
General Manager
With experience from The Ritz and Roka, Riju Joy leads Hermitage Rd with a focus on exceptional service and memorable dining experiences. His expertise in hospitality ensures a seamless blend of fine wines, cuisine, and guest engagement.
Oli Sturt
Head Chef
Born in Hitchin, Oli Sturt brings global culinary expertise from Michelin-starred kitchens. He champions British suppliers and mentors young chefs, creating dishes that highlight local ingredients with innovative techniques in our award-winning restaurant.
Phill
Coffee Shop Manager
Phill oversees our Coffee & Bagel Bar, offering ethically sourced Pact Coffee and fresh pastries. His vibrant personality and commitment to quality make the space a hub for coffee lovers, hot-deskers, and meeting professionals in Hitchin.
Yana
Sommelier
Yana curates our Wine Bar's global selection, hosting monthly tastings and pairing events. Her expertise ensures guests experience exceptional wines alongside small plates, enhancing Hermitage Rd's reputation as Hitchin's premier wine destination.
Questions
What makes Hermitage Rd's restaurant unique?
Our restaurant combines a historic ballroom setting with seasonal British cuisine crafted by award-winning chefs, using locally sourced ingredients for innovative, memorable dishes.
Can I hire meeting rooms at Hermitage Rd?
Yes, we offer three meeting rooms (6–16 people) with AV tech, plus evening private hire of our Coffee Shop for larger events in Hitchin.
Do you offer loyalty rewards for regular customers?
Our ACI Loyalty Membership provides exclusive rewards and privileges for coffee shop and restaurant patrons, enhancing your experience with every visit.
Are gift cards available for purchase?
Yes, ACI gift cards can be redeemed across our venues, including Hermitage Rd. 5% of proceeds support local charities at no extra cost to you.
What Christmas event options do you provide?
We offer festive dining for groups, private room hires, and exclusive Wine Bar events with bespoke menus and celebrations for Christmas and New Year.
Is the Wine Bar available for private tastings?
Yes, our Wine Bar hosts monthly exclusive tastings and can be hired for private events with curated wine pairings and small plates.
Reviews (7)
Joe Byrne
Jan 20, 2022
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Brilliant staff and very helpful when arranging a little treasure hunt for my wife's anniversary, they went above and beyond to help and make it a special gift. Coffee shop and Restaurant upstairs is very good too
Becky Pearson
Jan 01, 2022
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NYE was absolutely fantastic, friendly staff, food was amazing and fresh, great DJ and to top it off the band was brilliant... what a great evening. thanks so much 🍾🍾🥂🥳
Steve King
Dec 11, 2021
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The food is both extremely tasty and competitively priced. Would recommend this for indoor dining, quieter during the day. Had a lovely meal.
Sheryl Croft
Nov 12, 2021
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Fantastic food and service tonight from all the staff, restaurant was packed. Will definitely be back!
Michelle Dickson
Jun 15, 2021
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Fabulous food, very quick service. Staff were lovely. Would recommend to anyone visiting Hitchin. 5 ⭐️.
Mary Moore
Jun 13, 2021
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Best salad I’ve had in hitchin in long time fast service very polite tables cleaned before you sit down and chairs very clean toilets very reasonable prices
Lidia S.
Dec 26, 2020
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Best coffee in town! I have no idea how baristas here remember what I usually have, they are just amazing.
