I'm buying a pub. Are there any courses that would enable me to master basic pub grub?
You could contact your local catering college and see what short or part-time courses are available. When you're doing your business plan, if you're unable to put sufficient contingencies in place - eg, back-up chefs - I'd advise you to go for a simple food offering. If there's a similar establishment to the one you aspire to, talk to the owners about how they "did it". They might even let you do a stint in their kitchen alongside their chefs for free. Once you've decided on a manageable food operation, work with your chef to ensure you could take over if need be, though this should be the last resort. If you're tied up in the kitchen you can't be out there running the business.
Jane Sunley, managing director, Learnpurple
* If you'd like to submit a question, send it to chris.druce@rbi.co.uk