Located opposite Chester Market, the venue is inspired by the corner cafés of Paris and will bring a European-style all-day offering to an outdoor terrace setting.
At the centre of the space will be a wine discovery wall, allowing guests to explore and pour their own wines. Around 30 wines will be available by the glass, with a list focused mainly on French producers alongside a mix of low-intervention and more ‘unusual bottles’.
The food menu will focus on seasonal, sharing-style dishes designed to accompany drinks, combining Parisian staples, such as jambon persillé with mostarda and ratte potatoes, with more contemporary plates including fried chicken wings with green chilli and popcorn mussels with a marinière mayonnaise. A concise cocktail list will be overseen by Mark Jackson, head of bars at QVO Hospitality – the parent company of Maray.
Music will form a core part of the concept. From Wednesday to Sunday, Café Barbette will host DJs playing predominantly vinyl sets spanning disco, funk, boogie, soul and hip hop, with occasional Sunday sessions.
Founded in 2014 by Tom White, James Bates and Dom Jones, Maray, which now has four sites including one in Chester, was inspired by the owners’ experiences in the Le Marais district of Paris, an area influenced by Middle Eastern food.