Whitehaven's new cocktail and pizza bar brings out new menu

The Grapes is a pizza and cocktail bar that opened recently on Lowther Street.

Owner Graham Evans, 52, lives in Seascale with his wife Hannah and two children, Benjamin and Danielle. Graham and his wife have been in catering for more than 30 years, running hotels and pubs all over the British isles.

Over the last few years they have run pizza trailers on campsites at Dalegarth, Eskdale and Chapel Stile campsite, Nether Wasdale.

The bar, where mixologist Bex, serves up the cocktails (Image: Graham Evans)

In December 2022, they decided to take the next step and open their own bar. Graham said: "We knew opening in the winter months would be a challenge but we have been wonderfully busy and are now creeping into spring and hopefully even busier times.

"We are also very busy with group bookings, birthday parties, hens parties and retirement parties etc."

Grapes launched a new menu recently which includes quirky pizza toppings and bases, as well as the inclusion of the world's hottest chilli pepper into some dishes as an option.

The menu has around 20 pizzas on it, plus fries and a selection of cheesecakes.

Graham said: "I like to mix a few things up on the menu every couple of months so they menu doesn't become stale."

The carbonara and paneer butter curry pizzas (Image: Newsquest)

"When my front of house manager and professional mixologist, Bex, is writing cocktail menus we like to keep a traditional vibe often with an Italian twist, popular ones are our Negronis, Bloody Marys, seasonal Bellinis and Limoncello spritz."

Grapes also runs monthly specials - this month is cream egg or carrot cake martini. They offer takeaway, and lunch time specials also.

Graham said: "Customers feedback since opening has been amazing and we do listen to suggestions.

"This is one of the reasons why Indian butter chicken pizzas came on the menu!"