Newcomer of the Year

If you want to know the secret to becoming a success in the catering industry, you need look no further than Andrew and Jacquie Pern, according to Christie Group chairman David Rugg. The Perns, owners of the Star Inn at Harome, won the Menu of the Year award in 1997 and then pulled off the astonishing feat of winning the Newcomer of the Year award, sponsored by Christie Group, the following year - the first people ever to win two Cateys consecutively.

"The Perns are ideal examples of what the judges are looking for in the Newcomer of the Year award - they purchased their own business without any backing from anyone else and, through sheer hard work, determination and setting the highest standards, they have made a tremendous success of their business," says Rugg. "The same determination can equally be found in new companies in the hotel, pub or restaurant sectors."

Jacquie Pern attributes the couple's success to attention to detail throughout the business. "We do everything ourselves. We are always here, and if we aren't the inn doesn't open - that way we can maintain consistency. A lot of thought goes into everything we do and we very much care that people enjoy themselves".

Jacquie believes that good publicity shortly after the inn opened helped to establish the business. Since then they have made good use of the PR opportunities created each time they win an award - and to date they have won several.

"We chose to go for recognition, such as becoming one of the first pubs to be awarded a Red M and the pubs symbol by the Michelin guide," she says.

"We were also careful to spend as little as possible when we first started - even using our own wedding crockery and doing without luxuries such as a cappuccino machine. Whilst some people shut their restaurants for months to refurbish, we closed for only 10 days and did all the decorating ourselves."

Last year Jacquie was a judge in the Newcomer of the Year award, which was won by Pascal Aussignac of Club Gascon in London. "As judges, we were looking for something different - a new idea, rather than people doing the same things as everyone else," she recalls.

"Club Gascon was a new concept which impressed us. Having been a judge, I now realise what goes into the judging process and how proud we are to have won two Cateys." n