Senior appointment joins The Island Quarter

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 14 July 2022

Experienced hospitality expert Sally Thornhill has joined The Island Quarter as general manager of the site’s two vibrant new venues, Binks Yard and Cleaver and Wake.

Joining the team with 23 years’ hospitality experience, Sally has worked at a number of restaurants and venues across Nottingham, including a stint as general manager of the fine dining restaurant Hart’s, and Hambleton Hall, where she was events and recruitment manager.

Launching this summer, with chef patron Laurence Henry at the helm, Binks Yard will be a relaxed 150-cover craft beer, real ale, and cocktail bar and restaurant with a diverse menu including homemade tacos, pinchos, and items cooked over charcoal grills and sourdough pizza in an Italian wood-fired oven. There is outside heated dining, a live events bandstand, and canal-side eating and drinking.

Cleaver and Wake will be a more sophisticated environment showcasing the very best of British ingredients under Laurence Henry’s impressive culinary leadership. Once open, they mark the completion of the first phase of The Island Quarter, which - at £1.6 billion - is set to be one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK.

In her new role, Sally will work closely with the deputy managers, floor staff, and events teams at both venues.

Commenting on her appointment and the upcoming launches, Sally said:

“Hailing from Nottingham myself, this city has always been a big part of who I am. I’ve worked in several hospitality venues across the city over the years and witnessed the many changes taking place here. However, The Island Quarter is a particularly special project as it marks a brilliant new chapter for Nottingham, something I’m really excited to be a part of.

“Recent years have seen me take a step back to focus on family commitments. However, now that my boys are a little older, I’m looking forward to drawing on my years of experience to build, train, lead and develop the teams at both Binks Yard and Cleaver and Wake.”

Sally will also be applying her extensive events experience to support the rollout of a calendar of private events which will include weddings, conferences, and parties at the exclusive event space above Cleaver and Wake.

Sally continued:

“Establishing and maintaining two vastly different restaurants such as Binks Yard and Cleaver and Wake will be a unique challenge but one I’m certainly looking forward to. Together with both teams, I’ll be working to refine the unique personalities of both venues, while helping to cement them as fantastic destinations for the people of Nottingham and beyond.”

John Whitehead said:

“We’re really excited to welcome Sally to the growing Island Quarter team. She blew us away in her interviews with her extensive experience, knowledge of the industry, and passion for the role and project. I’ve been lucky enough over the years to experience her passion and expertise first hand.

“Ensuring we have the right people in place across both Binks Yard and Cleaver and Wake is really important to us, and Sally is certainly in good company. We are lucky to have uncovered so much talent through our recruitment strategy within both teams. With Binks Yard, our first launch, just round the corner I’m confident she’s perfectly placed to help us steer both brands to success.”

To find out more about The Island Quarter please visit: theislandquarter.com.

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