The Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton: an all new dining experience in an established location

On Wednesday 16 July, Mark Poynton along with new business partners, Gareth and Emma John will launch The Ancient Shepherds in Fen Ditton, a village located three miles outside of Cambridge. A restaurant with rooms located on the site of Mark’s former restaurant, MJP @ The Shepherds, this heralds an exciting next chapter for Mark and team.

Established residents of Fen Ditton, Gareth and Emma have been fans of Mark’s cooking ever since he opened his then Cambridge based restaurant, Alimentum in 2009. Having lived in the village for over 20 years, the pair wanted to safeguard the future of MJP @ The Shepherds and are excited to be a part of its next chapter.  Having run a successful Cambridge based business for over two decades, Gareth and Emma are keen that The Ancient Shepherds give back to its local community and will be teaming up with local Cambridge charities. They plan to support the charities by hosting charitable events throughout the year and pledging to donate from any profits the restaurant may make. 

Having recently won a Michelin star for his Norwich restaurant, Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall, Mark will lead the kitchen alongside his new right hand man Chris Lee whose experience includes holding 3 AA rosettes for over decade at multiple places around Suffolk including the Bidleston Crown. Dedicated to a tasting only menu, this will ensure minimal waste and maximise the customer and employee experience. A tasting menu ensures food costs are tightly managed and will encourage repeat customers thanks to dishes being changed on a regular basis. Easier to manage staff too, the kitchen will be made up of one team who will all work a four-day week and have set holidays throughout the year when the restaurant will close. Achieving this work / life balance is paramount to Mark who wants to ensure he creates a happy team and therefore a happy business. 

The menu will use as many ingredients as possible from the Kitchen Garden located at the back of the restaurant with Mark’s long-standing trusted suppliers providing everything else. Menus will come in options of three, five or seven courses each including bread, snacks and amuse bouche,

For summer 2025 dishes will include chilled pea mousse, cottage cheese and truffle (amuse bouche), wakame cured cod, tomato and elder ponzu, lemon puree to start; and Loin of hogget, tapenade puree, tomato, anchovy, courgette, and for dessert - sweet pineapple parfait, fennel sorbet, pineapple and fennel pollen meringue. 

Housed in a former pub dating back to 1580, Emma has overseen a sympathetic refurbishment which ensures the character of the building remains. A Farrow & Ball palate of soft plaster pink and grey will complement the original brickwork contrasted with furniture complete with round and oval shaped ceramic slate topped tables. Local artists display their pieces on the walls of the restaurant. 

Unstuffy in its presentation, table scaping will be kept to a minimum allowing for the food to speak for itself. A lounge area will include soft seating for pre or post dinner drinks and the entire space will be able to accommodate 34 covers in total.

The five rooms have also been spruced and are available to book with, or without a dining experience. Simple and stylish, they provide the perfect opportunity for dinner and a night’s stay or just a room for the night to explore the historical city of Cambridge.

With Mark’s star continuing to rise, The Ancient Shepherds will no doubt be a restaurant to watch. A place that will look after its community and attract destination diners alike, it will be a first of its kind for Cambridge and a welcome addition to its ever-improving food scene.