Booking lunch – at a home for drug users?

This month has seen another partnership with the local Training and Enterprise Council (TEC).

Our association with the TEC goes back to when I first set up the company and we were granted a £50-per-week allowance toward office expenses. Today such an allowance wouldn't keep us supplied with office biscuits.

Our local TEC has helped us recently with matched funding for our work on Investors in People, and we have been given much-needed advice and support.

This month it has given financial support for training staff to NVQ level 3 in food preparation and cooking supervisory management. This will be run in conjunction with our chef/management programme, enabling the delegates to gain a nationally recognised qualification.

The chefs are excited about the prospect. They are signed up, registered, and laden with thick reference manuals.

I was also lucky to have a meeting this month with our local Business Link adviser, who has offered the company its diagnostic service. This scheme will sponsor approved projects for up to 40% of consultants' fees. The projects can be anything from IT to marketing and even exporting.

Moving back to the heart of England, it seemed as though everyone from the media was reviewing City Rhodes, so it was the obvious choice to host a recent client lunch.

I'd read the critics' choices and high praise, and I was full of anticipation to try a Jaffa Cake dessert. However, I thought I had better make the reservation, as Monday lunchtimes might be sold out because the restaurant is so popular.

I phoned directory enquiries, got the number and tried to make the booking:

"Hello, can I help?"

"Yes, I'd like to make a reservation please."

"Pardon?"

"I'd like to make a booking for lunch."

"I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong number."

"Oh! Isn't that City Rhodes?"

"Yes it is, but were you wanting the restaurant?"

"Yes."

"Well this is City Roads, a nursing home for drug users."

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry."

In talking to the gentleman, he did say that he had had a large number of calls. He wasn't too annoyed about the situation, but was concerned that his real "customers" would not be able to get through if the lines were busy.

He then very kindly gave me the correct number. Perhaps Gary should consider a free lunch for this booking agent?

I put the receiver down feeling embarrassed, and reflected on the situation I could have landed my guests in. While it is a very clever name for the restaurant, who was responsible for the research?

Please make a note of the number for City Rhodes in your filos, 0171-583 1313. And yes, it was a very good lunch, but I just couldn't make it to dessert.