A NEWNHAM restaurant set in the village’s former post office has been hailed as a success story for the Forest of Dean District Council’s business start-up grant scheme.

Council representatives recently paid a visit to Post, a thriving bottleshop and restaurant on the High Street, which opened its doors in November 2024 with the help of funding from the local authority. Since then, it has built a strong reputation for its seasonal menu, welcoming atmosphere, and creative use of local produce.

Owned and operated by Ben and Florence, Post is a celebration of regional food and drink. Their smallholding in nearby Awre provides many of the vegetables used in the restaurant’s ever-changing menu, which is created by acclaimed chef Fred Page. Dishes are served Thursday to Sunday and are carefully crafted to reflect the seasons and showcase ingredients grown or sourced nearby.

The restaurant seats around 20 diners and offers an open kitchen, giving guests a theatrical view of the chefs at work. In addition to its lunch and dinner service, Post is open from 9am on Friday to Sunday mornings for coffee and a selection of homemade sweet and savoury buns.

One of the most popular aspects of the venue is its Sunday Sharing Set Menu – a modern take on the Sunday roast, served family-style with three generous courses. There is no à la carte option on Sundays, with the team instead creating a curated menu based on what’s in season and tasting best that week.

Forest of Dean District Council’s visit to the venue aimed to shine a light on the kind of small business that can thrive with the right support. Post received a start-up grant as part of the council’s commitment to boosting entrepreneurship and revitalising local high streets.

A council spokesperson said: “Post is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when passion, talent and community support come together. We’re incredibly proud to have supported Ben, Florence and Fred in bringing their vision to life. It’s not only a place to eat and drink but a fantastic reuse of a well-known building, creating jobs and drawing people to Newnham.”

Post is currently looking to expand its team as demand grows. The owners are recruiting for part-time and summer roles and are particularly keen to hear from people with a love of hospitality and local food. Job descriptions and application details are available on their website.

In addition to its restaurant offering, Post doubles as a bottleshop, with a curated selection of wines, beers and larder goods available for takeaway. Visitors can stop in for a drink and bar snacks at any point during the day, with walk-ins welcomed alongside reservations for meals.

Post is open Thursday from midday to 10pm, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 10pm, and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Lunch is served from midday and dinner from 6pm. Bookings are recommended for the main restaurant service, but space is always reserved for more casual drop-ins.