A local venue for local people is our mission
I strongly share the sentiments of Sue Spooner’s letter regarding Fouberts’ fabulous ice-cream (“Industry in danger of losing personal touch”, Caterer, 1 September, page 18). I wish to put the minds of Chiswick residents at rest.
Anyone who knows Nick Jones and I, will know what fiercely independent operators we are. We have between us, I believe, built and operated numerous restaurants, hotels and clubs that, while offering a much-updated style, have more in common with the spirit of the current owner of Fouberts, Luciano Lodico, than any of the faceless brands that dominate the UK hotel and restaurant scene.
Our intention in purchasing this wonderful hotel is to offer an exciting, approachable and above all service-driven business, created specifically as a “local venue for locals”.
As for the best ice-cream in south-west London, Luciano will continue making his ice-cream on the premises and is due to open a new, evamped ice-cream shop just a few doors away very soon. And we like the ice-cream so much we will be serving it in all our restaurants!
Robin Hutson, chairman, Soho House
One standard key to good tourism
Achieving common standards for assessing quality accommodation has been a goal of the national tourist boards, the AA and RAC for some time. Our approach has been guided throughout by a desire to meet customer demands and expectations, and reduce confusion when our visitors’ plan and book their stay in Britain. A single set of standards across Britain will also make it much easier to promote the benefits to visitors of choosing quality assured accommodation – both at home and across our international markets.
The standards were developed following extensive consumer research with focus groups and face-to-face interviews throughout Britain. Questionnaires were also sent to 3,000 hotel and guest accommodation providers – representing a third of the total participants in VisitBritain’s serviced quality assurance scheme. The response was overwhelmingly positive towards developing standards that will help increase visitors’ awareness and use of quality accommodation.
Clearly some of the changes will take time to implement. VisitBritain is making every effort to make the process as seamless as possible with lead-in times up to January 2008 agreed for some of the changes to be made. To this end, we are working with property owners to ensure that Britain continues to offer the wide range of quality accommodation – from family-run B&Bs and small country hotels to unique townhouse properties – that makes us a unique and world-class destination.
Stephen Farrant, general manager, VisitBritain
Mentoring a clear success
I read with interest the article by Alan Cutler “Lonely at the Top” (Caterer, 11 August, page 34). The article singles out mentoring as a solution for those managers needing to pursue their own development needs. As a director of a company that has been promoting the use of mentoring for personal and professional development, we cannot but applaud the advice given and the information supplied in the article.
In addition to what has already been said, I would like to add that mentoring has been subject of an explosive growth in the past few years because it offers a win-win solutions to both employers and employees. This growth in popularity is driven by needs such as life-long learning and development, a rapidly evolving business environment, targeted skills development and, perhaps above all, the steady decline of a job-for-life culture. This has led to the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own personal and professional development.
Mentoring is particularly effective for managers and supervisors as they can enjoy the opportunity to develop with support of a mentor focused on their personal and professional needs. However, informal mentoring, or “buddying”, tends to be less effective than structured mentoring, particularly when delivered within companies and organisations.
There is a fundamental difference between informal and formal mentoring. In the latter case, having a programme sponsor and trained mentors (whether external or – as preferred by many – internal to the company) ensures clear outputs are identified and expectations are set and respected. It also helps spread the benefits widely and allows the company to truly develop a mentoring culture.
Gaby Marcon, director, Shine People&Places
“Lonely at the Top” was written by Alan Cutler who offers mentoring services either face-to-face or remotely by telephone and e-mail. Contact alan@leadershiptalks.co.uk or telephone 01676 533996
In search of Johansen’s first editions
Next year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first guide published by Derek Johansen.
Unfortunately, our otherwise complete archive is missing the first two editions cover dated 1983 and 1984.
I would therefore be delighted to hear from any of your readers who may know the whereabouts of a copy of these two elusive editions.
Andrew Warren, managing director, Condé Nast Johansens
Where’s your steak from?
When Douglas Rodríguez, consultant chef at the Gaucho Grill, states a preference for “Argentine and Aberdeen Angus” when he’s cooking steak, (“How to... Cook Steak”, Caterer, 1 September, page 14), the separate reference to country of origin on the one hand and the breed of the cattle on the other, is misleading.
Recent research carried out by NOP World (June 2005), has shown that 84% of consumers do not realise that Aberdeen Angus is actually a breed of cattle produced from herds all over the world. Instead they believe that all Aberdeen Angus originates from Scotland. Upon being told that their Aberdeen Angus steak could have originated from a country other than Scotland, many respondents reported feeling “disappointed, shocked and even angry”.
If caterers are to avoid confusing consumers with misleading labelling, it is important that they include reference to the country of origin in addition to the name of the breed – ie, Argentinean Aberdeen Angus steak.
Richard Lowe, consumer affairs director, Meat and Livestock Commission
Calling all eccentrics
I am writing in the hope that you may be able to help me with a rather curious request. I am looking for an unusual, eccentric and quintessentially British hotelier – full of passion, perhaps hot-tempered, or even an old stickler when it comes to “running their ship”. Male or female, the person should be in charge of somewhere where a few good tales could be told; where there are hordes of guests, or where they are just getting by; or a forgotten retreat that needs rediscovering.
I am researching for a one-off documentary for BBC2 and am hoping to stumble across just such a place and person. I work for a Bafta-winning production company which specialise in high-end authored documentaries. Should anyone wish to find out more, have a good chat or even give me some pointers, my number and e-mail details are: 07908 243366 and greatbritishhotelier01@hotmail.com.
Clare Beagley, by e-mail