Chefs

Vacancies to fill: finding kitchen staff has been proving difficult for a long time (credit: Getty/andresr)

FEATURE – STAFFING, TRAINING, RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT

FEATURE: Overcoming the staffing shortage

By Michelle Perrett

Staffing has always been a challenge in the pub sector but since the perfect storm of Brexit, Covid, minimum and national living wage increases, the cost-of-living crisis, immigration changes – combined with the poor reputation of a career in the industry...

Honoured: Tim Martin, Adam Handling and Stuart Broad

New Year’s Honours roll call review

By Gary Lloyd

The New Year Honours list always attracts attention and the recent awards were no exception as JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin received a knighthood for his services to hospitality and culture.

Pub in the Park 2023: inside the event's Brighton weekend

Inside Pub in the Park Brighton

By Rebecca Weller

Events like Pub in the Park can help “get people back into pubs” but preparation and investment are key to succeed, according to operators from this year’s East Sussex event.

Variety of benefits: foraging for ingredients could benefit chef's bottom lines and mental health (Image credit: Chloe Newcomb Hodgetts of Gourmet Gatherings)

How can foraging for ingredients benefit chefs?

By Rebecca Weller

Foraging for ingredients offers a multitude of benefits to operators, from sustainability to variety and diversity to mental health and finances, according to people from across the sector.

Making a meal of it: Pubs torn on the ethics of adults ordering kid's food (credit: Getty/Rawpixel)

Should adults be able to order from the kids' menu?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Operators and customers have debated whether adults should be able to order from the children’s menu: some slam the behaviour as unacceptable, with others viewing it as no big deal.

Don't cry over spilt milk: Suppliers drop prices (Getty/ Monty Rakusen)

Wholesale suppliers drop milk prices

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Some wholesale suppliers have slashed milk prices by 10% after milk production was better than expected, according to Prestige Purchasing.

Hard work and passion: Stosie Madi (pictured) shares secret to gastropub success

Secrets behind #1 Gastropubs success

By Rebecca Weller

Aspiring chefs need to cook for themselves and never for their ego, according to chef-patron of the 2023 number one Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Stosie Madi.

Continuous battle: Andrew Pern's the Star Inn the Harbour pub in Whitby to close next month following lack of support from council

Andrew Pern pub to close due to 'lack of support'

By Rebecca Weller

Andrew Pern’s Michelin-listed Yorkshire pub the Star Inn the Harbour, will close its doors for good next month following “utter lack of support” from the local council in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Time for change: chefs need improved technology and training to encourage creativity

Chefs need improved technology and training

By Rebecca Weller

Two fifths of catering staff believe a lack of training, technology and resources has caused low morale amongst their teams, a survey of contract catering firms across the UK has revealed.

Right time: Leeds pub forced to close kitchen amid soaring energy costs (Credit:Getty/Lebazele)

Pub forced to close kitchen due to energy costs

By Rebecca Weller

A Leeds-based pub has been forced into "tough decision" to make chef redundant and close its kitchen in an effort to “save the rest of the pub” due to rocketing energy costs.

Work-related stress: Burnt Chef Project announces new guide to help employers tackle stress in the work-place

Burnt Chef Project releases new guide

By Rebecca Weller

The Burnt Chef Project has released a new Work-Related Stress Guide, designed to provide insight to employers and leaders on how they can start to strategically tackle stress within their place of work.

New appointment: Simon Bonwick (pictured) has been confirmed to be taking over the kitchen at the Princess of Shoreditch from the end of August

Simon Bonwick to join Princess of Shoreditch

By Rebecca Weller

Michelin-starred chef Simon Bonwick has been confirmed to be joining Noble Inns site the Princess of Shoreditch in East London as head chef at the end of August.

Pandemic impact: I say this with no expectation or not as a jibe; at the end of the day, Covid has put an exceptional strain on the hospitality sector and no one could blame someone for squeezing out more profit where possible during what has been an incredibly testing time'

Opinion

The great restaurant pricing debate

By Sarah John, director, Boss Brewing

It was popcorn at the ready for me recently as I saw the argument unfold between Wine Expert Guy Woodward and Celebrity Chef Tom Kerridge on Twitter.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 26

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Food Glorious Food!

By Ed Bedington

With indoor reopening now well underway, the Lock In team tackle the subject of pub grub, how the crisis has impacted on offers, the challenges around growing your own chefs, calorie labelling on menus and we ask how sustainable is your pub food offer?...

Paying tribute: people from across the pub trade have outlined their memories of Gary Rhodes

Pub industry pays tribute to Gary Rhodes

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub chefs, licensees and a trade body have paid tribute to celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, following the sad news that he died this week (26 November) in Dubai.

No flash in the pan: Stonegate has credited its employment of apprentices for a reduction in chef turnover

Stonegate reduces chef turnover rate by 32%

By Emily Hawkins

Stonegate Pub Company has reduced its chef turnover by almost a third (32%) after the introduction of its back-of-house apprenticeship programme.

Measuring happiness: a review of the mood in the catering sector has been released

Food jobs will be cut to ‘absorb costs’

By Nicholas Robinson

Catering firms are preparing to cut jobs to absorb increasing costs, while a significant proportion of operators claim they do not plan to hire new staff this year.

Team spirit: Staith House staff celebrate a clean service

How the Staith House’s John Calton launched a second site

By Nicholas Robinson

Five years in and the dynamic trio behind the success of the Staith House, in North Shields, Tyne & Wear, are setting their sights on the future of the gastropub, which has come a long way from its beginnings as a ramshackle quayside boozer.

Music and food: Tom Kerridge's Pub in the Park festival expands

Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park – who’s there?

By Nicholas Robinson

Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park food and drink festival has expanded to four locations and features some of the UK’s finest gastropubs and restaurants, but who will be starring at each event?

Parliamentary Pub Chef Awards are back

Parliamentary Pub Chef Awards are back

By Nikkie Sutton

The Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year Awards are returning for a second year, in a bid to highlight growing demand for talented and creative pub chefs across the nation.

Chef rules: Jesse Dunford Wood has run Parlour since 2013

Top 50 Gastropubs chef launches cook book

By Nikkie Sutton

Jesse Dunford Wood – chef-patron of Top 50 Gastropubs stalwart the Parlour in Kensal Green, north-west London – has released his debut cook book, showcasing the best the pub has to offer.

Meet the chefs

Join the Pub Brigade

Meet the chefs

By Daniel Woolfson & Noli Dinkovski

Meet the pub chefs who are facing challenges regarding recruitment - and how they overcome them.

The battle for the kitchen crew

Join the Pub Brigade

The battle for the kitchen crew

By Daniel Woolfson

Filling their boots? Daniel Woolfson talks to some of the top figures in the pub industry to discover the lay of the land regarding chef recruitment.

Spotlight

Beer Report 2024 available now to download for free Access the Beer Report 2024 now for free The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 77 S4 Ep. 14: Stars in bars! (Feat. James May, Candice Brown and more) Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

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