Gareth Gates won a 12 minute pop career, Rick Waller won a spot on Celebrity Fit Camp, Steve Brookstein (X Factor 2004) won anonymity but Aaron Craze won The Cock Inn in Beazley End. So maybe not all television competitions are inherently evil.
To call the TV show Jamie's Chef a television competition is unfair, it was essentially a competition (between Fifteen graduates) that was televised. And anyone who watched it would have seen 'Big Al' (he's not big, he old; for a Fifteen graduate) coming out trumps and winning the proprietorship of The Cock Inn.
However, the programme subsequently showed him turning the place into an Italian restaurant, ballsing-up service and nearly burning down the pub. To quote mentor Trevor Oliver, Jamie's dad "Hopefully he'll make it but the odds are against him." Since the programme finished, reports have also surfaced that the locals have abandoned the "poncey" gastropub.
Well, I was up there on Wednesday and a few things took me by surprise (1) It's a pub not an Italian restaurant. In places gastropub, but in other places a proper, ales-in-tankards, men-talking-sheep-prices, collie-licking-a-discarded-pack-of-pork-scratchings, old-man-on-a-stool-who-could-be-dead pub. And the locals still drink there. (2) It's packed. Absolutely packed. We could only just squeeze a table in the corner on a Tuesday lunchtime. And I was with Jamie Oliver's PR guy, who you thought might be able to pull a string or two. (3) There is, contrary to the TV show, lots of staff and a great 2nd chef, also from Fifteen. (4) Aaron and his girlfriend Nicci are still together in spite of the rocky impression the relationship had on screen. (5) It's orange. Really orange. Like a sort of giant roofed clementine in the middle of the Essex countryside. (6) It's really good. There is very little Italian influence on the lunch menu, its just high quality pub grub, and Big Al can cook. If you're as curious as everyone else seems to be then pop along. Just remember your sunglasses.
Comments (4)
Bravo to both Jamie for the insight in Aaron and to Aaron for his amazing ability and talent. A+++ thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at The Cock. Fabulous service and each course delicious. Even simple pub food served in an unique fashion, perfectly presentd and prepared. Again, well done and keep it up.........we'll be back and bring friends!
Posted by Janice Berry | April 8, 2007 11:45 AM
Posted on April 8, 2007 11:45
Hi Jamie, as my sisters and i are coming over in April 2008 we would like to have a meal at the cock Inn as we watched it on tv back here in Australia, and we loved your shows, could you please give us an address so we can find it, Thankyou..... Judi, Peta and Chris
Posted by Judi Kaufmann | August 18, 2007 12:31 PM
Posted on August 18, 2007 12:31
We had a meal at the Cock Inn on Sunday (table of 13 people) and we had many complaints. (we were going to be late so told the waitress and asked if this was OK? the reply was, no problem just let us know)
We Ordered 3 difference dishes between us, mushroom Risotto - Not too bad, 1* vegetarian Pasta & 1 meat pasta - asked vegitarian to come without courgettes, it came with more than the other dish?. 1 dish was for for lamb, this arrived slightly warm, but burnt and completely tasteless. The rest was for roast beef. We had to wait another 20 minutes, after the other dishes arrived, to get our food. We then had to inform the waitress that a few of the dinners had no roast potatoes on the plates, we got a dirty look and she left, returning with a bowl of potatoes being told to share them out between us. We did not get asked if our meal was ok at anytime.
When I did complain I was told that it was our own fault for being late, she did offer is a cup of coffee, which I found an insult and refused, reply was there is nothing else they can do and suggest we pay our bill.
Cant beat good customer relations? May want to think twice if you have a party of more than 4 !!!!!!
Posted by Adrian Gurnett | September 24, 2007 4:44 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 16:44
We had a meal at the Cock Inn on Sunday (table of 13 people) and we had many complaints. (we were going to be late so told the waitress and asked if this was OK? the reply was, no problem just let us know)
We Ordered 3 difference dishes between us, mushroom Risotto - Not too bad, 1* vegetarian Pasta & 1 meat pasta - asked vegitarian to come without courgettes, it came with more than the other dish?. 1 dish was for for lamb, this arrived slightly warm, but burnt and completely tasteless. The rest was for roast beef. We had to wait another 20 minutes, after the other dishes arrived, to get our food. We then had to inform the waitress that a few of the dinners had no roast potatoes on the plates, we got a dirty look and she left, returning with a bowl of potatoes being told to share them out between us. We did not get asked if our meal was ok at anytime.
When I did complain I was told that it was our own fault for being late, she did offer is a cup of coffee, which I found an insult and refused, reply was there is nothing else they can do and suggest we pay our bill.
Cant beat good customer relations? May want to think twice if you have a party of more than 4 !!!!!!
Posted by Adrian Gurnett | September 24, 2007 4:45 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 16:45