Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - January/February 2023 (Issue 41)

RICK STEIN GROUP LISTED IN UK’S 100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR The Rick Stein Group has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Companies to Work For. The accolade sees the company appearing at number 88, as revealed at the Best Companies Live event and is a testament to Stein’s ethos: ‘Our people are our greatest asset and we love making them smile’. Rick Stein Group has also been placed at number 14 in the Top 25 Leisure & Hospitality’s Best Companies to Work For. The Best Companies survey is the largest in the UK, surveying both employees and management to determine a true measure of workplace engagement and inspiring all businesses to build a happier, healthier workforce. With nearly 50 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Rick Stein Group is proud to be featured alongside the very best companies to work for in the country. The award recognises the hard work and dedication of the entire Rick Stein team from Padstow in Cornwall, through Marlborough, Sandbanks, Winchester and up to Barnes in London. Looking after and developing the team, and creating fulfilling careers in hospitality, are of the utmost importance to the Rick Stein Group. Nurturing a culture around listening, engagement and transparency supported the company achieving a 50% increase in survey responses from the team compared to 2019 when they ranked 55 in the UK’s Best Companies to Work For 2020. Rick Stein Group offers a wide range of initiatives that support and develop the team. The quarterly Stein’s Value Awards recognise and reward those living by the company values and encourage engagement from around the business to nominate and celebrate peers. They also have a range of opportunities for members of the team to learn and grow, from in-house and on-site knowledge training to supplier visits and product tastings. The internal coaching programme engages top talent by focusing on individual development needs whilst providing exposure to new opportunities through one-to-one coaching sessions with a senior manager. Furthermore, giving to charity has always been a priority for the Rick Stein Group and they have recently announced a major new partnership with One Feeds Two, aiming to donate 225,000 meals a year to children in some of the poorest parts of the world. Charlie Stein commented, “To be recognised by Best Companies in this way is something to be immensely proud of. Ever since my parents started the business in the 1970s, looking after our staff, as well as our customers, and making sure they feel valued has been a priority. We want everyone to feel that they’re part of a team, that they belong, and that they feel motivated to come to work. What we’ve achieved here is down to the hard work of everyone across all of our business and I’m delighted for the whole team.” To find out more, visit www.rickstein.com RIVER COTTAGE KITCHEN & STORE OPENS The new River Cottage Kitchen & Store has officially launched. Open from 9 am until 5 pm seven days a week, with breakfast served from 9 am until 11.30 am and lunch from 12 pm until 3 pm, this casual cafe is located within the famous River Cottage HQ - a stone’s throw from the recognisable farmhouse and gardens. Whether dining al fresco on the outdoor terrace or enjoying the light and airy space indoors, guests can soak up the breathtaking, ever-changing views of the East Devon countryside. Cyclists, adventure seekers and four-legged friends are all welcome, and there’s plenty of space to park cars with additional spaces reserved for the disabled access. The River Cottage Kitchen & Store champions organic, local and seasonal food with a farm-to-fork ethos. The new menu has been developed by Gelf Alderson, culinary director of River Cottage, for more than ten years. His talent has long been recognised through his work with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to create the delicious menus served at River Cottage. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said, “I’m very excited about our brand new Kitchen & Store at River Cottage HQ which is now open. It’s a casual space for breakfast, lunch, drinks and cakes as well as a store where you can buy our River Cottage products and books. We’re not currently taking bookings so you – and your dogs! – can simply drop in to check it out and see the beautiful views across the valley. It’s a beautiful space in a beautiful location – at the top of the hill from the farm, but not on the farm itself - and I hope to see some of you here soon.” To find out more, visit www.rivercottage.net WINYOUR DREAMWEDDING AT RIVER COTTAGE River Cottage will soon make one lucky couple’s dream come true with a complimentary wedding, set in their famous 100-acre organic farm on the border of Devon and Dorset. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will personally handpick the winning couple’s names out of a hat at the end of January 2023. The prize will provide the setting of River Cottage HQ as the venue for the couple to celebrate their special day. The prize includes canapés, a three-course seasonal meal served with coffee and petit fours, plus accommodation in the famous River Cottage farmhouse for six people on the night of the wedding. Surrounded by sensational Devon countryside and organic farmland, this dream wedding location offers exclusive use of its grounds for the day. As seen on the River Cottage television series, the spectacular backdrop features the renowned River Cottage Farmhouse Kitchen Garden, a beautifully restored 18th-century Threshing Barn and grounds full of fruit trees, streams and meadows. With superb food and drink at the core of River Cottage, the kitchen team pride itself on unforgettable celebratory feasts, using the very best local and seasonal produce. In the lead-up to the big day, their chefs will be on hand to help the lucky couple design a perfect, tailor-made menu. From the outset, River Cottage’s dedicated wedding coordinator will work closely with the lucky couple-to-be, from bringing their conceptual ideas to life, right through to ensuring the big day runs smoothly - and most importantly, is stress-free and fun! The competition is open to couples who book a wedding to take place between 1st September 2023 and 31 March 2024. Entry into the prize draw will be on receipt of a signed contractual booking and payment of a 25% non-refundable deposit, during the promotional period of 25 September 2022 to 31 January 2023 (inclusive). Full terms and conditions are available at www.rivercottage.net/win-your-wedding www.benjaminthomaswheeler.com 12

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