Greene King Discovers new talent

Celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White has, this month, given his support to an apprenticeship scheme, introduced by Greene King.

The Discovery Apprenticeship scheme currently involves almost 700 young people working in Greene King’s pubs and restaurants.

Marco Pierre White helped to officially launch the programme with a cookery masterclass.

The masterclass also celebrated the achievements of some of the first apprentices to qualify. It was attended by eight apprentices, each nominated by their Business Development Managers and Area Chef for Loch Fyne, Chris Stanbrooke.

Chris, a former apprentice himself, said: “To be able to get tips from one of the ‘greats’ like him was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us.”

The scheme has also been praised by Karen Woodward, Divisional Apprenticeship Director at The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

She said: “The NAS are delighted to be supporting Greene King and their selected provider, Charnwood Training Group, in their Apprenticeship programme.”

Over 250 employees have completed the apprenticeships and 425 are currently in training. Greene King intends to extend the scheme to cover 1,300 employees in 2012. Around 70% are currently aged 24-years-old or younger.

Jonathan Webster, managing director of Greene King’s Destination Pubs and Restaurants division, said: “Our aim is not just to provide a ‘pub job’ but to offer a clear career path for our employees.”

He added: “We might even develop a future Michelin star rated chef!”

Marco Pierre White started his own training at the Hotel St George in Harrogate. At the age of 33 he was awarded three Michelin Stars.

Vintage Inns nourish poetic imaginations

A well crafted line could lead to a free meal from Vintage Inns, in a competition being judged by former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion.

The national competition is being held to honour Great British country pubs. Each week Sir Andrew will choose one line, from those submitted, to take the poem forwards.

The poem that results will be an accumulation of those winning lines. The opening line is: ‘The muted brilliance of autumn leaves.’

Each week one person will receive a signed copy of one of Sir Andrew’s books along with dinner for four, plus wine, at their local Vintage Inn.

Sir Andrew will also be producing his own verse on the Great British country pubs theme.

Vintage Inns, a Mitchell’s & Butlers pub chain, features ‘real ales, real fires and pub-food as hearty and warming as the welcome.’

There are nearly 200 Vintage Inns throughout the country.

Sir Andrew was Poet Laureate between 1999 and 2009. His sequence of war poems ‘Laurels and Donkeys’ will be featured on BBC Radio 4 over the weekend to honour Remembrance Sunday.

www.vintageinn.co.uk/offer/poetrycompetition/

Adnams adds new recipes to its menu

A new range of condiments is on offer from Adnams, along with the reappearance of its winter warmer Old Ale.

One of the Suffolk brewers and pub owner’s kitchen teams created the recipes for the condiments. Alexese Scott, Adnams’ Cellar & Kitchen Food Buyer, was also closely involved in the development.

Ms Scott said: “We’re incredibly proud to be putting our name on the labels. We will be stocking the full range of products in all of our Cellar & Kitchen stores, online and also in our hotels, and are looking forward to sharing our new offerings with our customers.”

The range uses local ingredients and includes Adnams Tomato Ketchup, Wholegrain Mustard with Broadside, Brown Sauce and Strawberry Jam.

The labels were designed by local artist Clare Curtis. Her coastal illustrations are inspired by Suffolk’s landscapes.

Meanwhile, Adnams 4.1% ABV Old Ale is back to liven up winter. The mild ale style beer is brewed with East Anglian pale ale and Crystal malted barley and Boadicea hops.

Adnams other beers include Ghost Ship, Southwold Bitter, Broadside and Explorer, amongst others.