Building a better business

A team of judges headed by Hugh Cade of Touche Ross met at Caterer's offices recently to judge the inaugural Peacock Awards.

Aimed at independent caterers nationwide, the judges were looking for operators who are building a better business. Good customer and community knowledge were prerequisites, and finalists had to be profitable and demonstrate sound business practice.

Each of the businesses listed below has been invited to the Dorchester, London, on 22 January.

At the presentation lunch, prizes will be awarded to all finalists; regional winners will be announced and an overall catering champion will receive £5,000 in cash plus £3,000 of vouchers to spend at their local Nurdin & Peacock depot.

The semi-finalists are:

Elphicks, Farnham, Surrey; Café Sanders, Milton Keynes, Bucks; Glebelands Residential Home, Dunstable, Beds; the Stone Jug, Clophill, Bedford; the Old Tollgate Restaurant & Hotel, Steyning, West Sussex; the Cooke House, Chelmsford, Essex; Tardis Licensed Guest House, Biggin Hill, Kent; the Black Horse, Dartford, Kent; Micheal's Mobile Fish ‘n' Chip Shop, Cranleigh, Surrey; Squires Restaurant and Takeaway, Paignton, Devon; Fermies Takeaway, Paignton, Devon; the Crabshell Inn, Kingsbridge, Devon; TCC Catering, Plymouth; Glen-yr-Afon House Hotel, Usk, Gwent; Clock Tower Fisheries, Kingswood, Bristol; Clive Baguettes The Deli, Cheltenham, Gloucester; the Blackgate Restaurant, Newcastle; Sistars Kitchen, Leeds; the Bengal Dynasty Tandoori, Deeside; Joe's Wine Bar Chester; the Corner Cafe, Otley, nr Bradford; the Tennyson Hotel, Bridlington, North Humberside; the Jacobean Lodge, York; the Logan Lea Residential Home, Hull; Squirrel's Nest, Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk; Danny's Fish & Chip Takeaway, Lowestoft, Suffolk; Midway Truckstop, Whitchurch, Shropshire; Bay House Sandwich Shop, Saxmundham, Suffolk; Hollybush Coffee Shop, Wolverhampton; the Greyhound Inn, Diss, Norfolk; the Bell Inn, Derby; and the Yew Tree Inn, Nottingham.

Professional chef

Lucinda Hyman, a student from Thomas Danby College, Leeds, has gained the highest marks in the country in the practical examination of the advanced Professional Chefs Diploma. To mark her achievement, she has been given an award from the Craft Guild of Chefs and the Cookery and Food Association.

Double honours

The Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge, Cumbria, has won 1995 National Training awards for exceptionally effective training. The hotel is also joint winner of the Lady Ingelwood training award for commitment to training and customer care.

AA Rosettes

The Washbourne Court Hotel has been awarded three AA rosettes. These have been achieved over three years since proprietors the Pender family took over. Head chef is Stuart McLeod.