Just had lunch in Prison!

[Davey S2]

I have a boys end of month lunch every month and today we went to The Clink restaurant in Cardiff Prison.

It's in a building just outside the prison gates so you don't actually go inside but it was a great surprise. Almost all of the staff are prisoners but the place was very well set out and the food was fantastic.

Starters were £4.50 - £5.50 and mains around the £11 mark.

Iwas expecting some canteen type food but it was far closer to fine dining.

Here's my pic of my salt beef and ham hock starter which was to use a Welsh term 'proper lush'



I had pan dried sole fillets with mint potatoes and seasonal veg for my mains which was just as good and just as elegantly presented.

I'll definately be going again based on this. They have several more around the country at various prisons so if there's one close to you give it a try.

It's also a registered charity and the re offending rates for inmates who have worked there is a fraction of that for the general prison population.

[Bullett]

The Clink is a charity, there is also one at HMP High Down, I looked at this a while back but haven't made it yet.
Good to know it's going well.

[Vieste]

That looks good.

[Puggit]

This is a fantastic demonstation of the kind of rehabilitation of prisoners that should be carried out everywhere. Hopefully they pay for their work through income of the restaurant, so it's zero cost, and they learn amazing and transferable skills

Glad you enjoyed.

[AmitG]

Puggit said:

This is a fantastic demonstation of the kind of rehabilitation of prisoners that should be carried out everywhere. Hopefully they pay for their work through income of the restaurant, so it's zero cost, and they learn amazing and transferable skills

Glad you enjoyed.

+1000

IMHO there should be much, much more of this sort of thing.

I will be visiting. Thanks OP.

[Rick101]

Food looks great but website suggests there is only 2 Clink's?

[CatJ]

Wow that looks rather nice.

[Gaspode]

Food Looks great and an excellent scheme too. I must keep an eye out for such places.

[majordad]

I read somewhere recently a similiar scheme in the States, prisoners restore old cars.

[Gaspode]

majordad said:

I read somewhere recently a similiar scheme in the States, prisoners restore old cars.

I bet they don't taste as nice

[Davey S2]

Apparently since it started 40 prisoners who have worked in the restaurant have been released and only 1 has re offended.

[SpeckledJim]

Gaspode said:

majordad said:

I read somewhere recently a similiar scheme in the States, prisoners restore old cars.

I bet they don't taste as nice

I dunno, the pan dried sole fillets didn't sound great...

[Rick101]

Didn't big tongued Oliver do something similar a while back?

[Hoover.]

Rick101 said:

Didn't big tongued Oliver do something similar a while back?

Yeah was called "15" or something like that, but was with young offenders/delinquents/ex drug addicts etc

[LilPeteMordino]

Ramsey also set up a prison kitchen and selling on the outside.

I'm tempted to go to this one though, I'm local to Cardiff! Going to look into it.

[Truckosaurus]

The Jailhouse Cafe at The Verne on Portland has the best views on the island.

[slippery]

Gaspode said:

I bet they don't taste as nice

[Digger]

BBC1 right now.

[CB125T]

AmitG said:

Puggit said:

This is a fantastic demonstation of the kind of rehabilitation of prisoners that should be carried out everywhere. Hopefully they pay for their work through income of the restaurant, so it's zero cost, and they learn amazing and transferable skills

Glad you enjoyed.

+1000

IMHO there should be much, much more of this sort of thing.

I will be visiting. Thanks OP.

Completely agree with this having seen that program!

All you need to do is look at Robbie (I think his name was) to see how successful these things can be. Would be interesting to see how well he does in life now

[ambuletz]

Jamie Oliver loves recruiting people that have been released on prison. Good way of getting them on apprentice wages and whatnot.