Cross Kitchen opens second site in converted barn sat in heart of South Downs

The ambition to expand a family-run cafe has come to fruition as a husband and wife duo launch their second site in the heart of the South Downs.

Cross Kitchen was established in Emsworth in 2021 by Steve and Gemma Cross, who had a shared goal of becoming a community bistro cafe with a menu that primarily consists of local produce.

Five years, and a few awards later, and the business has officially opened its second location in a converted barn located in Oldwick, Chichester.

Steve said: “We had been looking for a new location for a while and we hadn’t found anything we really liked but then this came up - it’s really nice and offered us a bit more space to develop what we do and it will also help our staff grow and give us the opportunity to expand. We want to try a few different things so we have a few events coming up and some of them focus on fine dining so everyone has the chance to try a different style of food from us.

“I have always worked in fine dining food so that is something I have always wanted to try. We are hoping to get a mix of customers in and open it up to the whole community. The menu is the same as Emsworth day to day so customers have the option to come to two different places.

“It has been good but we need more support and we want different faces through the doors - it’s a lovely barn in the South Downs.”

After getting the keys at the start of October, the team spent the best part of two weeks refurbishing the venue to put their own Cross Kitchen stamp on the place.

The Oldwick site opened on October 12, and has already gone down a treat with customers as it dishes up breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea throughout the week.

As part of their fine dining offering, the bistro cafe is preparing to host a series of events featuring two and three-course meals. These are due to take place on November 7, 29 and December 12 and 20.

The 43-year-old added: “It is daunting. In the current climate, it is a dauting thing to do and is definitely a risk but we always wanted that risk and wanted a second location to expand so we can show what we can do in a different way and show what Cross Kitchen has grown into. We are trying to grow the brand.

“Everyone on the team is part of our family.”

For more information about Cross Kitchen Oldwick, click here.