Nigella Lawson opens first pub to train young people with learning difficulties and autism

There is a particular energy to a busy pub: the steady rhythm of service, the rise and fall of conversation, and the familiar warmth of a well-run space.

But we all know that the true success of a boozer is all down to the people behind it, and the heart that they provide.

In Brighton, a new pub is giving back to the community, having opened its doors recently with the help of celeb patron, TV cook and food writer Nigella Lawson.

Situated a short walk from the Royal Pavilion and surrounded by the city’s independent cafes and hospitality venues, this new pub blends naturally into its surroundings.

The North Star in Brighton (Team Domenica)

But beyond the surface-level impression of a standard addition to Brighton’s food and drink scene, the project represents an ambitious and innovative commitment to creating meaningful employment.

The North Star is the UK’s first pub designed specifically to train young people with learning disabilities and autism, offering structured experience in a genuine working environment.

Operated by the local charity Team Domenica, the venue aims to equip trainees with practical skills, confidence, and the foundations needed to progress into long-term paid employment.

The North Star prepares young trainees for real hospitality roles in Brighton (Team Domenica)

Lawson, who attended the opening alongside fellow patrons Baroness Monckton and actress Marisa Abela, emphasised the wider value of such initiatives.

Reported by The Times, she said: “I do think it’s important that people with learning difficulties are given a place where they can belong and where they can thrive. It’s important not just to emphasise how it enriches people with learning difficulties, I think it enriches the community."

Addressing guests during the launch, she added: “What Team Domenica is about … I mean, yes, fighting for employment, but [also] giving a sense of belonging, a sense of fun, a sense of community, and I have to say the things I believe in very strongly are good food, communities, and a sense of coming together over food to make life, I suppose, have more meaning … and there’s a lot of shade in life. It’s good to have some lightness as well."

Nigella Lawson is supporting Team Domenica’s mission to expand inclusive employment opportunities (BBC)

Team Domenica’s results underline the scale of its impact to date: 80 per cent of young people on its supported internship programme have secured employment, and 86 per cent of those who progress into work stay in their roles for more than two years.

The North Star is expected to expand these opportunities, giving trainees the chance to learn and develop within a live, public-facing setting.

Lawson reflected on the potential wider influence of the project, noting: “It’s like you light a fire and little sparks go off, and you don’t quite know where they’ll kindle."