The public Percy's
It's 3pm, but Tony Bricknell-Webb has just woken up. "I went to market this morning," he explains, "so I'm a bit groggy." He's a bit irritated, to boot, because one of his bookings tonight is for a single occupancy and his guess is that it's an AA inspector.
He had a go at the association recently because it hadn't inspected him for 20 months and its latest guide went to press with Percy's receiving the old write-up and just two rosettes.
"I don't get on with them," he says. "If they don't improve my ratings, I'll come out of the AA to avoid confusion with the other guides. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow morning."
It would be easy to understand his frustration if it's not good news. Percy's has just been awarded a Gold Ribbon by the RAC, been named Stylish and Chic Hotel of the Year in the Which? Hotel Guide 2003 and, for the second year running, been named Small Hotel of the Year in South West Tourism's Excellence in England Awards.
But all that is just preliminary chit-chat before we broach the burning question: has the regional development agency (RDA) granted Percy's the £800,000 that Tony and his wife, Tina, need to set up their chefs' training academy?
The answer is neither yes nor no. Unexpectedly, it's not the money that's an issue for the RDA but the fact that the academy would create more hospitality places in an area where there is already low uptake at colleges. It seems to have missed the point that the Percy's academy would address the dire local skills shortage at the top end of the market.
It also hasn't appreciated how committed the couple are. They need a total of £1.1m to build the academy, some of which they plan to raise by borrowing £250,000 and increasing turnover - already up by £90,228 on this time last year.
Incredulous that the bid might fail, Tony has begun lobbying the chairman of South West Tourism and is confident that the RDA will be won round after he has addressed the South West Tourism conference later this month which will be attended by the RDA's chairman and his deputy.
"Grants in the public sector just don't move as fast as in the private sector," says a resigned Tony. "And I'm comfortable that the £800,000 is not too much of a sticking point."
In fact, despite the initial shock of the RDA's reaction, he's confident enough to have set up an appointment to plan the training kitchen with an architect and a representative from equipment supplier Hobart.
Meanwhile, Tina, who heads the Percy's kitchen, is already busy inspiring youngsters. She recently judged a Ready, Steady, Cook-type competition with two-Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines and invited the winner, 15-year-old Steven Plumridge, to join the Percy's brigade for a day. The story made its way into the local press, flagging up the academy and raising the profile of cooking as a career choice.
Tony has mixed feelings about Percy's other marketing coup, however. His horse, Lady Percy, came last in her debut race at Leicester last month but made it straight on to the pages of the Western Morning News. Well, as they say, all publicity is good publicity.
The story so far
Tony and Tina Bricknell-Webb swapped their chain of betting shops for the world of hospitality 15 years ago. Since 1996 they have been running Percy's Country Hotel and Restaurant near Okehampton in Devon. They grow nearly all the organic produce themselves, including chicken and lamb, which Tina - a locally acclaimed chef - cooks.
They are currently trying to tackle the skills shortage in the area by setting up a chefs' academy. Nearly everything is in place: Hobart is providing equipment; the Learning and Skills Council has pledged funds of £5,500 per student; and the Duchy College has agreed to be a course verifier. To build the academy, the Bricknell-Webbs need £1.1m. They have submitted a bid to the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) for £800,000, will borrow £250,000 themselves, and make up the shortfall by increasing turnover. Now it's just a case of waiting to hear from the RDA.
Percy's
Virginstow, near Okehampton, Devon
Tel: 01409 211236
Web site: www.percys.co.uk
Owners: Tony and Tina Bricknell-Webb
Opened: March 1996
Bedrooms: eight
Seats: 36 (28 in use)
Estate: 130 acres
Investment: £365,000
Grants to date: £25,000 from South West Tourism (SWT) for the rooms; £40,000 for the new bar; plus £22,000 this year to upgrade the rooms in local ash furniture. Also, £3,000 from SWT and £2,000 from Business Link to present the academy bid to the regional development agency.
Average occupancy: 46%
1 April to 3 November 2002 (previous year in brackets)
Turnover: £226,116 (£135,888)
Cost of sales: £35,797 (£27,477)
Staffing costs: £73,464 (£41,173)
