The day our Sunday lunch turned sour

I am writing this at the beginning of Easter week, for which bookings are extremely good. Trade throughout March has been a bit up and down, which we are putting down to poor weather. Areas close to us have been flooded and the constant rain was quite depressing.

Recent staff recruitment seems to have been very successful. We've found it quite difficult so far because, while needing quality employees to keep the standards right, we haven't needed people to take on major responsibilities as Andrew and I are always here and will be for some time yet.

However, I have now got a great front of house team so I am planning to hand over a few behind-the-scenes responsibilities. Andrew is also developing a good relationship with Yorkshire Coastal College and is taking on a couple of keen young trainees.

We are really hoping for a good summer as the garden - previously the jungle - and pool area at the back of the pub are beginning to look rather good and we hope to hold some special events and offer "al fresco" dining.

We have just finished having our roof rethatched, which has created a lot of interest and good publicity, but it is not a terribly economical advertising ploy.

I've had one unpleasant experience this month. This was with a gentleman in the bar who, after trying to reserve a table in the restaurant for five people on a Sunday and being informed that we were fully booked, decided to come along and eat in the bar.

He had eaten with us before so knew our set-up. We have a small bar and operate a first come, first served system. His party arrived at 1pm and it was 3pm before a suitable table became available, at which point he informed me, in no uncertain terms and in a loud voice, that we offered appalling service, were frightening our customers away and he would be writing to all the restaurant booking agencies in the UK.

I'm not sure what a restaurant booking agency is, but I don't think they have a branch in Harome. If so, we'll take a chance on not being on their books.

We had a good night at the Publican awards - not a patch on the Cateys, of course. The highlight of the evening was meeting up with ex-diary writer Denis Watkins and partner in crime John Topham. I only hope their heads were as bad as mine the next day. n

Jacquie Pern and husband Andrew own the Star Inn at Harome, Yorkshire

Next diary from Jacquie Pern: 13 May