National charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has announced the appointment of award-winning, family-owned company Thomas Franks (no relation to the new Tottenham manager) as catering partner for its Saunderton-based Grange Restaurant.

The partnership promises to bring exciting developments to the much-loved community dining space, including a refreshed focus on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, sustainability, and the launch of a brand new out-of-hours events business.

Thomas Franks brings a reputation for serving exceptional food, making them the perfect match for the charity’s values and vision. Their appointment marks a significant step forward in establishing The Grange as a standout destination for both daytime dining and bespoke events.

The Grange Restaurant provides a welcoming space for engaging with the local community and raising awareness about the charity’s vital work - training dogs to alert deaf people to important and potentially life-saving sounds, such as smoke alarms. Everyone visiting the restaurant is directly supporting the training of more of these life-changing dogs.

Under the new partnership, The Grange will continue to serve visitors teas, coffees, cakes, snacks and meals during the day, while transforming into a welcoming venue for private hire, community gatherings, workshops, and small celebrations in the evenings and at weekends.

Angela Brazier, Front of House Manager at The Grange restaurant, said she was thrilled to welcome the Thomas Franks team to the charity.

“The introduction of an events business will also allow us to breathe new life into the space in the evenings and weekends – opening up fresh opportunities for both fundraising and community use.”

Sarah Martin, Regional Director South West, Thomas Franks said, “At Thomas Franks, we are passionate about creating food experiences that bring people together. We’re excited to work closely with the charity’s team to build on The Grange’s reputation and create something truly special for both daytime guests and evening events.”

The catering team will work alongside the charity’s 40 Front of House volunteers, some of whom have hearing loss themselves, who are an important part of the charity and its business.

For booking enquiries, or for more information about the events space, please visit: www.thegrangesaunderton.org.uk or contact: bookings@hearingdogs.org.uk.