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 Making a Difference: John Honeyman (l), with James Arkell (r) and fellow fundraisers |
Christmas Cheer at Swiss Chalet raised over £2,000!
Christmas and New Year came (very) early to The Swiss Chalet in Chapel Street, Gorse Hill this weekend when Arkell's landlord, John Honeyman, dedicating a whole week to fundraising for a new local charity, Swindon Cares.
The charity-mad landlord and his intrepid team of supporters raised £2,243.37 during the week, which culminated in the speediest seasonal celebrations ever this weekend, when customers celebrated 'Christmas Eve' on Friday night and 'Christmas Day' on Saturday lunchtime (complete with three course dinner and Father Christmas). The 'New Year' was seen in on Saturday night with customers singing whilst standing on the tables, according to John.
The fun kicked off last Monday 14th July with darts night, followed by a quiz night on Tuesday, a Casino night on Wednesday and a Bullseye evening on Thursday. Throughout the week, thanks to generous local sponsors, the Arkell's pub was also able to give away a DVD player every night.
Yesterday (Sunday) evening, as pub regulars were enjoying a relaxing drink after a hectic week, The cheque was accepted on behalf of Swindon Cares by its chairman, James Arkell, managing director of Arkell's Brewery.
"This is a fantastic amount to raise in such a short space of time," he said. "We congratulate John and his team for organising the events, and for his terrific customers who all threw themselves into the spirit of the week and raised such a huge amount of money."
John, who has been landlord at The Swiss Chalet for two years, and was at another Arkell's pub, The Liden, for the previous six, is one of Swindon's most enthusiastic fundraisers and in the past has raised thousands for a number of charities close to his heart.
"I enjoy organising events," he says. "But it's our customers who really make them the success they often are. Gorse Hill has a strong community and locals are happy to get stuck in and support an event - especially one which is raising money for such a worthwhile and local cause."
For more information contact John Honeyman at The Swiss Chalet on 01793 535610.
Arkell's Goes Into Freefall
Intrepid Swindon brewery director, George Arkell, took to the skies yesterday to do a sponsored tandem parachute jump with the Parachute Regiment's Red Devils Display Team.
George (24) decided to lend his support to Swindon's newest charity, Swindon Cares, chaired by his father, James, during the charity's major funding raising efforts this week.
Aimed at 'Making a Difference' to people's lives in Swindon, Swindon Cares Week, taking place from 14th - 19th July, is the result of a joint effort between Zurich, Nationwide, Swindon Borough Council, the Evening Advertiser, GWR Trust, Rotary and the Swindon Chamber of Commerce with the sole aim of uniting the town's commercial sector, schools, groups and individuals to raise over £10,000 for local charities.
George reckons he will have raised over £300 for the charity, and says he would be happy to do it again - as long as there was a pint of 3Bs waiting for him on the ground!
Chef Triumphs at Hare and Hounds
Chef Gerry Ragosa triumphed on Saturday night when he scooped the 'Chef of the Year' award at the prestigious Cotswold Food Awards.
The celebrated chef, who has worked with Anthony Worrall Thompson and Anton Mossiman, only just made it to claim his award after a busy night in the kitchens at Arkell's pub The Hare and Hounds, Foss Cross near Cirencester, where he is co-licensee with his partner Angela Howe.
Gerry and his partner Angela have been running The Hare and Hounds for nearly two years, and say that this award is a real feather in Gerry's chef's hat!
"There is a huge amount of talent in Gloucestershire and Gerry was up against some tough competition," explains Angela. "We couldn't believe it when they announced his name."
The judges praised Gerry's deceptively simple but delicious menu and also commented on the high standards of the front-of-house operation.
"I'm delighted to receive this award," says Gerry. "It will not only be a boost to our business at The Hare and Hounds, but will also help to promote further afield the high quality food and menus that is now available across The Cotswolds."
After two years at catering college, Gerry began his career at The Dorchester in London, working for internationally-acclaimed chef Anton Mossiman. He moved to work at The Cumberland Hotel and The Europa in Grosvenor Square.
Keen to expand his career outside London, he moved to the Midlands and worked at a four-star hotel in Sutton Coldfield before returning to London to work for such well-known chefs as Anthony Worrall Thompson and Gordon Ramsey.
He then became executive chef working at Simpsons in Piccadilly and The Hurlingham Club in Ranelagh Gardens, London.
Four years ago he decided to leave London for good and became head chef at The Bunk at Curridge near Newbury. Here he met his partner Angela Howe and two years later they decided to take over the license at Arkell's pub The Hare and Hounds near Cirencester.
"The Hare and Hounds, or The Stump as it's known locally, had built an excellent reputation in the past, but due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic, business was slow when we took over," explains Gerry.
"We immediately set to work developing our menus and building the business up in the bars. Two years later we run a busy pub made up of our loyal regulars and customers coming from further away as both our reputation, and that of The Cotswolds as a food destination, grows."
Arkell's Brewery, which owns The Hare and Hounds, knew that when Gerry and Angela took over the pub would be in very safe hands.
Arkell's managing director, James Arkell, said: "Gerry is an inspired chef and Angela runs the front-of-house operation like clockwork. I have seen customers arrive in happy anticipation and leave replete, relaxed and saying it was an experience to savour. Together they make a fantastic team."
Gerry is keen that the wider message delivered by the Cotswold Food Awards is heard loud and clear across the UK. "These awards are just what we need to promote the fantastic food produced and served across The Cotswolds. We source much of our menu locally and I'm glad to say that the quality and choice are getting better and better."
Judges for The Cotswold Chef of The Year, were Michelin-starred chef Robert Rees, director of The Country Elephant Ltd, and now a food ambassador for Gloucestershire, and Mike Otter, of the regional food group, Taste of The West. The award was sponsored by the 'Taste Gloucestershire' campaign launched earlier this year by Taste of The West.
Mike said: "We're so pleased to sponsor the award for Chef of the Year. We've already had chefs telling us they're doing things differently because of the Taste Gloucestershire campaign, and we looked at how chefs use local produce when we judged the award."
Celebration of Real Ale!
Arkell's Brewery are asking all real ale fans to make a date with them for 12th and 13th of September when, for the first time in its history, the brewery will be running a beer festival at its Kingsdown headquarters in Swindon.
The brewery's beer festival is in celebration of Arkell's 160 years of brewing real ale and the event is aiming to feature guest beers from all 33 members of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB).
"We're very proud of the brewery, our heritage and especially our beers," said Sales Director Nick Arkell who is spearheading the event with head brewer, Don Bracher.
More about the Swiss Chalet...
Red Devil: George Arkell in freefall
(all in the name of charity)!
"It's not the first time I've done a parachute jump," said George. "But the last on was on a static line. This time I jumped from 13,000 feet and spent the first 45 seconds in freefall at 120 miles an hour. It was incredibly exhilarating."
All In Aid Of Charity: George with the Red Devils Display Team
Swindon Cares website...
Award-winning: The Hare & Hounds
More about The Hare & Hounds...
"Normally, we leave beer festivals to our pubs, but we wanted an excuse for a big party to say thank you to our staff and loyal customers and by inviting fellow members of the IFBB to join us we can also celebrate with our peers."
The event, which will also raise money for local Swindon charity The Prospect Foundation and nationally for The St John's Ambulance, is available to invited guests only on the 12th, and the general public on Saturday, 13th all day from 11am - 7pm.
Also on display will be designs from a recent collaboration between Arkell's Brewery and Swindon College of Art and Design when as part of their end-of-year presentations, students were asked to design new beer labels.
Head brewer, Don Bracher, is looking forward to the event with relish: "This is a celebration of real ale, and of breweries such as Arkell's. We're looking forward to tasting the huge range of tastes and flavours that make up cask beers produced from all over Britain.
Serious 'Fun'draising for Swindon Cares
Arkell's landlord, John Honeyman, is not only dedicating a night to fundraising for local charity, Swindon Cares, but promises a whole week of fundraising from 14th July.
"We're aiming to raise between £3,000-4,000, and to encourage people to come on down to The Swiss Chalet in Chapel Street, we're giving away a DVD player every night, thanks to the generous support of local businesses," he says.
The fun kicks off on Monday 14th July with a darts night, followed by a quiz night on Tuesday, a Casino night on Wednesday and a Bullseye evening on Thursday, copying the well-known TV programme.
From Friday to Sunday it's Christmas come early when The Swiss Chalet holds Christmas Eve on Friday night, followed by Christmas Day on Saturday lunchtime, complete with three-course dinner and Father Christmas and if that's not enough cheer, see in the New Year (very!) early with New Year's Eve on Saturday Night!
Sunday is for the kids when the Swiss Chalet will be holding kids competitions, including spaghetti-eating.
John is no stranger to fundraising, saying that it makes a welcome change to taking about the weather and other chit chat from behind the bar.
"I enjoy organising events," he says. "But this time we've gone really mad - but it's all in a good cause."
For more information, contact John Honeyman at The Swiss Chalet on 01793 535610.
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Swindon Cares website... |
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More about The Swiss Chalet... |
'Smart Move' for Arkell's Landlord
Well-known landlord from Arkell's pub The Woodshaw in Wootton Bassett, Peter Gill, is taking over the licence at another Arkell's pub, The Currier's Arms on the High Street in Wootton Bassett.
And this Friday night (4th July), the pub will not only be celebrating its new landlord with live music, but raising money for local charity Swindon Cares as well.
"I used to play in a duo called 'Smart Move' and the other half of the duo, Alan Warden, will be down here playing live from around 8.30pm, whilst his son Richard works with me behind the bar," says Peter.
The Currier's Arms is a new challenge for Peter and his wife Jenny, who moved in yesterday. "We've run The Woodshaw for two and a half years, and will continue to do with Geoffrey Chandler, our co-licensee there, who remains in charge. It's a fabulous family pub, and the new art gallery in the small bar is proving extremely popular - I sent out two paintings to America which were ordered through our website just a couple of weeks ago. But as it's running so smoothly with Geoffrey in charge, we felt it was time to add another pub to our collection!"
James Arkell at the Brewery is delighted that Peter wanted to take over another Arkell's pub: "I think it's a Smart Move for Peter and his wife," he says. "Peter's a very experienced landlord and will fit in very well at The Currier's Arms."
Peter says: "The Currier's Arms is right in the centre of Wootton Bassett and a real beer-drinker's pub, popular with sports fans as it has satellite TV, and we're not about to change that. We've also started opening an hour earlier in the morning - at 11am."
For more information on The Currier's celebration night on Friday 4th July contact Peter Gill at The Currier's Arms on 01793 854814
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More about The Currier's Arms... |
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