OCTOBER 2025
La Zouch, 2 Kilwardby Street
The present owners Geoff and Lynne Utting purchased this stunning property in March 1982 and after extensive renovations re-opened the Restaurant in August of the same year. Their retail shop opened in the summer of 1994 (the property had been Grade II listed in 1977)
In 2016 another major refit saw the showroom being moved downstairs onto the ground floor, a kitchen refit and new menus giving a totally different feel to La Zouch with more emphasis on the bar and retail wine and spirits. The garden was redesigned to give more space for seating in a tranquil setting.
Looking back to 1828, 3 cottages with adjoining land occupied the site. An Indenture of 1858 details the sale by public auction (held at The Shoulder of Mutton) of the property for £730. In 1885 the building was advertised to be let “A good family residence with possession at midsummer”.
During the late 19th century, the buildings, which also included 1a Market Street (with Shellbrook Motors/Toys next door) housed many businesses. It must have been a mini business park of the time covering many trades. In 1901 the building was occupied by Agnes Akers, a housekeeper (member of staff school) and ten female scholars.
The present front dining area and bar of La Zouch were two different shops with other businesses being carried on in the buildings behind i.e. butchers, corn merchants, millers. In 1903 one of the tenants was insured to sell household goods including linen, music, china, glass, books, jewellery and even wines and spirits! The property was at one time known as Trinity House, 29 Kilwardby Street. The numbering of the property was changed in 1972 to Number 2.
In July 1903 the house and shop only was let to William Woodward who agreed to put in a new window on the left side of the front entrance to correspond with the one on the right. Geoff and Lynne also replaced these windows in 1993 to actually replace the bay windows that had been installed in 1962. William (a grocer) died in 1934 and his wife continued trading until 1950. From about 1952 the building was then occupied by John and Norah Baugh (also Grocers) until 1961. So the building was a grocery shop for many years until 1967 when the business changed and was run as café/restaurants by Michael Lingard who was originally a tenant but purchased the property with his wife in 1973. Whilst a tenant Mr Lingard was given 18 months to improve and modernise the property by putting in a bathroom and electricity to the second floor and attics.
In 1972 it was licenced to sell drink with food with musical evenings down the cellar (not the most comfy of places) The property was sold to Mr and Mrs Hassin 1976 and subsequently bought by Geoff and Lynne in 1982.
Many Thanks to Geoff and Lynne for providing a potted history of this fabulous building. Also
congratulations to them both for recently winning the Longstanding Contribution to Ashby Bid Award.
