ASK Italian opens new community concept restaurant

ASK Italian has launched its first ever community concept restaurant in Horsham. 

Developed in collaboration with local residents, initiatives and producers, the sustainably-focused restaurant and menu is designed to bring the people of Horsham together. 

Elements of the pilot space, which will be rolled out across other ASK Italian restaurants in the coming year, take inspiration from changing consumer needs as the hybrid working model continues to take hold. According to a YouGov study, a quarter of employees now intend to embrace some form of remote working, with local communities now playing a more significant role in daily life. 

The brand has worked alongside Horsham artisan producers to give the menu a local twist. Horsham Spirit Gin will now feature in its Lemon Drop Spritz cocktail while a selection of locally-brewed Firebird beers will also be available. The revamped menu will support local food bank, Horsham Matters, through donations and volunteering. 

Town locals will play a pivotal role in the new space, with Horsham-born artist Sam Flylightly commissioned to create bespoke artwork throughout the restaurant. He will also create bespoke portraits of 'Horsham Heroes' past and present – including the town's most famous literary great Percy Shelley and digital content creator Katie Kirk who, living with a condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, blogs to raise awareness of the condition within her community. 

The restaurant comes with a brand-new fit-out using industry-leading sustainable practices and materials –including a suite of upcycled products from ASK Italian’s inventory.

A refreshed menu supports ASK’s sustainably-focused outlook, aiming to empower customers to make simple dish swaps to reduce their carbon footprint. Working with Foodsteps, an environmental food consultancy service, ASK Italian is giving Horsham customers the ability to view the impact of switching to plant-based options on reducing their carbon footprint, to make more environmentally informed decisions.

"Horsham is a special place with a whole mix of people coming together in the town," says the restaurant's general manager, Rafik Saoud. "We’re so proud to be re-opening our restaurant with new features that celebrate our locals and can’t wait to hear what they think."

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