Acklam Hall, Middlesbrough, unveils new Brasserie restaurant

One of Teesside’s most recognisable venues has this week launched “the next stage in its evolution” with The Brasserie, a “completely refreshed food offering”. 

The Hall Drive restaurant, in Acklam, had been operating as Tomahawk Steakhouse for the last six years and before that as The Brierley for four years. 

Bosses behind the new venture, which is still being run under the Tomahawk umbrella, described the revamp as the hall “growing into itself”. 

IMPRESSIVE: The exterior of Middlesbrough’s only Grade I-listed building

They say the new look compliments the way guests are increasingly using the 1683-built hall – from breakfast meetings and morning coffee to lunch, afternoon catch-ups, drinks and dinner. 

The project is being led by head chef Dan Wood, who has a long connection with the Tomahawk group as the original head chef at Tomahawk in Potto, which closed earlier this year. 

After six years of Tomahawk at Acklam Hall, Dan believes the time is right for the restaurant to evolve alongside the changing way guests are using the venue. 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

“Tomahawk has been part of Acklam Hall since 2020 and it has been a really important part of the journey here,” he said. 

“But it feels like the right time for a refresh and to bring something lighter and more versatile to the Hall. We see people using Acklam Hall very differently throughout the day now. 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

“We have guests coming for breakfast and coffee, businesses meeting here during the day, people having lunch with clients and then, of course, guests joining us for dinner and celebrations in the evening. 

“We wanted to create a menu that works naturally across all of those occasions.” 

Alongside the established wedding business, there are also plans for more meetings and conferences for exclusive use, corporate dining, and serviced business events. 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

This autumn, the hall plans to launch The 1683 Club, a new invitation-only business and private members club designed to create a home for relationships and connections within Teesside’s business community. 

Bosses also want to launch a dedicated hot-desk and co-working space at The Parlour, previously a private dining area, for freelancers and professionals to base themselves.

The Brasserie’s new restaurant will keep long-standing steak favourites on the grill, including ribeye, fillet, and flat iron, but a “more varied collection of dishes” have been added. 

New dishes include King Scallops Saint Jacques, twice-baked mature cheese soufflé, trio of lamb with fondant potato, and lobster and crab linguine. 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

With an earlier opening time of 8am, breakfast will also be on offer from a full English to cinnamon French toast and smashed avocado on sourdough with poached eggs.

Sunday dining will also remain an “important part of the week”. 

Dan added: “People who love coming here for a great steak absolutely don’t need to worry – those favourites aren’t disappearing. 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

“But alongside them we’ve been able to introduce some lighter, more refined dishes and give the menu much more breadth. 

“We want the food to feel sophisticated and stylish, but still relaxed and accessible. 

“Ultimately, it needs to be somewhere you could happily eat several times a week rather than saving it for one particular type of occasion.”

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

Tomahawk Steakhouse, which has branches in Yarm, Durham, and Newcastle, closed at Acklam Hall for the final time on August 23. 

Since then, work has gotten underway to refresh the space and train staff ahead of the official opening as The Brasserie last Sunday (August 30). 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

The opening came just a week after plans were unveiled for a 59 bedroom boutique hotel on the land next door, which has been described as a “major investment opportunity”. 

The project is hoped to boost Acklam Hall’s wedding and events business and comes two years after a previous hotel and spa bid was rejected by Middlesbrough Council. 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

The land owner of the proposed hotel site James Watson, who runs Over Ice Business Consultants and Teesside Restaurant Week, said talks are already ongoing with national hotel brands, as well as potential investors and operators from the Far East. 

Formal plans for the project are expected to be lodged later this month. 

The Brasserie has launched at Acklam Hall in Middlesbrough (Image: Social Allies)

Acklam Hall was built by William Hustler and owned by generations of his family for centuries before being sold and opened as a grammar school for boys in 1935.

It later merged with Kirby Girls’ Grammar School to form the co-educational Acklam High School before being turned into a sixth form. 

Middlesbrough College then ran the site until it moved to a new purpose-built campus in Middlehaven in 2008, and the building shut.

It remained empty until 2014, when the land was sold and Acklam Hall Ltd finally started work on its restoration. It reopened in 2016 as a wedding venue, restaurant and office space.