A chicken wing shop in Marlow is undergoing a major transformation as their base - The Crafty Taproom - undergoes a five-week refurbishment to be Ginger Wings’ first restaurant

Ginger Wings was founded by friends Jack Blumenthal and Leigh Jones in 2022 and has operated out of the Crafty Taproom in Marlow High Street.

The pair sub-letted the kitchen and served chicken wings, strips, burgers and sides while the bar offered locally sourced craft beers, fine wines and craft liquors.

“Anything new is quite daunting. But we just got busier and busier and started building our name and brand," Jack told the Advertiser.

“As time went on, people were only there for our food.”

After scooping 27 awards, Jack, 32, said the ‘natural progression’ was to take over the building lease, which they did in December.

The Crafty Taproom closed for good on April 5 with ‘a great send off’ and ‘absolute mayhem’.

“The place was breaking apart as the night was going on, so I think it was the building telling us, it’s time to shut down now," said Jack.

The Crafty Taproom is currently in the middle of a five-week refurbishment to be transformed into Ginger Wings’ first restaurant.

“We've been talking about refurbishment, global domination and whatnot for the last year and a half," said Jack.

“It's crunch time now.”

The former bar will be converted to ‘full restaurant service’ with covers doubling to 60, new leather booths, TV screens for sport and regular local DJ nights.

“More music, more colour, more of a community vibe – not that we weren't anyway – but it’s much more plush," he added.

Ginger Wings will offer a new cocktail menu after Jack ‘poached’ the 'amazing barman' from his father, Heston Blumenthal's pub, The Hinds Head in Bray.

“The whole building is changing,” Jack said.

“We’ve got more extensive menus than just your chicken wing shop.

“Everything will be chicken-based, but Marlow will be our blueprint for hopefully the next five to 10 shops.

”Marlow is the perfect place for us.

“You can still come in for a drink, but it’ll be table service food-wise, so we're bringing that fun fast food element but much more refined.”

The restaurant’s proposed opening date is May 11 which could mean an exceptionally busy week for the pair due to the company’s involvement in Marlow’s Pub in the Park event.

Ginger Wings will offer a reduced menu from its food truck – a converted ambulance called Mother Hen – with eight DJs playing over the weekend at Higginson Park.

Jack said the restaurant will be open for drinks and after parties between the event dates, May 15 and 18, and 'we’re the first party you get to when you leave'.

Leigh, 43, is the former head chef at Marlow Bar and Grill, and Jack was a private chef in Bray, who believed there was ‘more to life in cooking than fine dining’ before focusing their attention on chicken.

“We're known for doing experimental flavours on top of wings and chicken.

"[These are] home classics people love, but with our twist. Coq au Vin and Chicken Kiev, but done the way we know how.

“There are a lot of other places doing really good wings, but we want to be the first posh gourmet chicken restaurant.”