A few moves & new openings in the pipeline.
This week the British Chambers of Commerce signaled the biggest sign yet that the UK economy is returning to previous levels of growth, not seen since 2008. With the Hospitality sector at the leading edge of the growth curve, it is hardly surprising that several chefs are looking at new openings & opportunities. With Scotland … Read more
Coworth Park………………..yet another Executive chef required.
Late last week I received yet another email, concerning senior departures at Coworth Park. Ordinarily I wouldn’t bother, as the constant revolving door of staff at the Dorchester Collection’s country outpost, has become somewhat of a standing joke. Sadly, Executive chef Brian Hughson, is leaving due to illness and has reportedly been on leave for … Read more
What the heck is going on at Heckfield Place?
Yet another week goes by and some more juicy gossip arrives at my inbox, and as I haven’t posted any for a while it seemed about time. It concerns the beleaguered Heckfield Place near Hook. The Hampshire country pile has suffered a number of set backs to the point where the natural turnover of staff … Read more
The John Campbell pop up experience, South Lodge.
In a fast paced world constantly re-inventing itself, it’s hard to get excited by a temporary restaurant. There are exceptions of course, multitudes of food bloggers got into a lather last year when the highly acclaimed L’Enclume opened its two year pop up in London, many claimed that it was jumping on the band wagon … Read more
Big name chef, big plans. It’s all go at Limewood
Earlier this evening chefhermes.com received confirmation that the ‘big name chef’ that had been signed up for the culinary offering at Limewood is the Michelin starred Angela Hartnett, not Skye Gyngell as initially thought. Whilst not Limewood is not quite in the freefall position of Coworth Park, it has been trying to recruit for a … Read more
And still it rumbles on at Coworth Park….
After being open a total of 622 days, Coworth Park has seen off two Executive chefs (and technically a former two Michelin starred consultant). Today, hot off the press The Dorchester Collection are set to announce their new incumbent of the mantle at their country outpost. Most readers of this blog will say ‘who??’ and … Read more
Musical chairs at Lime Wood?
For the past month or so rumours have been rife concerning the country pile run by former Hotel du Vin chief Robin Hutson. First there was the rumoured departure of Hotel Director Justin Pinchbeck which I posted to the social networks *Latest rumour | ChefHermes : Justin Pinchbeck has resigned as Hotel Director at Lime … Read more
Carnage at Coworth
News has landed at chefhermes.com that there are about to be several large departures from the troubled countryside outpost of the Dorchester Collection. Opened in late September 2010 Coworth Park has seen relatively little stability. The departure of former 2Michelin star chef John Campbell in April 2011, along with many of his loyal ex-Vineyard staff … Read more
Words of Advice ~ John Campbell
This edition of the ‘5Questions‘ comes from a chef who has recently featured on the Chef Hermes Blog with his recent move to his consultancy role at Coworth park. John Campbell’s star was first on the rise on his appointment to Lords of the Manor in 1997 from the then BBC Residential Training Center, Wood … Read more
Surprise Appointment at Coworth Park
This lunch time ‘The Chef Hermes blog’ received some surprise news. After the post not so long a go about the restructuring in the kitchens of The Dorchester Collection’s latest country outpost, it all seemed a done deal. John Campbell would move to a 3 day a week consultancy role to oversee the eponymous restaurant … Read more
