THE NEXT LEVEL

As regular readers of this column will know,we are about to embark on the next and exciting step in my attempt to make THE WITCH INN one of the foremost dining experiences you can have in a pub.I have always believed in quality produce for starters,then you must have quality staff to make sure the food reaches the table in tip top condition.The New Kitchen will be twice the size of the previous one and we have a new and exciting team of Dan Lawrence and Steve Ramsey,who come highly recommended from a major Hotel in London.As anybody who has ever worked in catering will know staffing is always a problem,but this time i think we have the right team to step up to the next level.Over the last three years since i started this venture in June 2005 there have been problems.My first chef appointment was not good and came to an end in November 2005.Then i had an agency Chef called Matt Budden who was brilliant who took me through Christmas and onto Jan 20th before he took up a post in fine dining at a Marriot Hotel in Chichester.Because he was an agency chef and a high class one,he was very expensive so i made little money.On January 20 Jeremy Parsons joined me with John Scillito and for two years we have grown.This year they have both decided to leave, Jez is going back to life on the road with festival work and Johnny is giving up cheffing.Unfortunately,thats the way it is,life goes on either with you or without you.So we hired two new and established Chefs who will be charged with taking us to the next level.They are up for the challenge of growing with the business and ready for hard work and enthusiasm.
At the same time as the kitchen is being done we are putting in a Disabled Toilet and changing the ladies toilet area to accomodate Ladies and Gents toilets.In the pub itself we are putting in tongue and groove,painting the walls and Teresa is designing new Curtains everywhere.Quite a lot to do in four days but they say they can do it so heres hoping they can.
The next step is very important to me because i always want us to be going forward and improving,so with your help and support which incidentally up to now has been wonderful i feel we can achieve my ultimate goal of world domination,that of course is a slight exaggeration.Wish me luck
gerry and teresa