HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

The biggest highlight was, of course, winning Best Restaurant In Kent 2007 for the second consecutive year.

WOW it was really a great surprise. We would just like to thank everyone who has supported us and a big well done and thank you to Stuart, who without his expert cooking we would not have won.

We are again in the running for Best 2008, but there are several strong entries including two restaurants run by celebrity chefs, so this year will be a hard one to win. We will hear whether we are in the final end of January, with the winners announced end of February.

Themed nights last year, as always, gets well supported. Both The Pudding and The Lamb, Strawberry and Asparagus Nights were fully booked, couldn’t fit anymore in, as was our Gourmet Fish, Salmon, Cherry and Fizz and our Local Beer Evening.  We also had a great response to our two Fund Raising Nights. The first was for Stephen Baston, who was raising money to fund a year teaching children in Nambia. We constantly hear from him and he is doing very well and is finding the whole experience very rewarding. The second evening was for NCO (National Children’s Orchestra). The CASA quartet, four girls aged between 11- 13yrs, entertained us and have been back since to play in the restaurant. I hope to arrange another classical evening early Summer. However, we will have to consider take deposits in the future, for these special evenings. On both the Charity nights, we had tables not turning up. It not fair as we do turn away people and the whole idea is for us to raise as much money as we can.

Staffing as always is very difficult, particularly in the catering and hospitality industry which is renowned for its high turnover of staff. Having said that Robert is still Stuart’s right hand man in the kitchen and is proving a very valuable member of the team, fitting the odd daytime shift between his catering course at Canterbury College.

We said goodbye to Tracey and Annelise. Francesca joined Front Of House with Laura and Richard who help out during busy times. We also saw George Powell, who left early 2008 to take up a teaching degree, make a brief return FOH over the Christmas period.

We are now entering the time when the restaurant trade is traditionally quiet until Easter. That and the present economic situation that is effecting everyone, it will be interesting to see how the town fairs.  We don’t think anybody was surprised to see three restaurants in the town close its doors at the end of last year. It is a myth that people think having a restaurant is one of the easiest ways of printing money. Running a restaurant involves so many aspects to it, which you need to get right. Its not all about just having good food, if the service is appalling, or great Front of House Staff only to be let down by cold inedible food. You need to constantly balance the overheads. Having more staff working than customers eating, will only lead to disaster.

Alistair Darlings budget has done nothing to help the restaurant trade. Whist cutting VAT by 2.5% in the hope people will reduce prices, he has increased the alcohol duty. We think a lot more still needs to be done in 2009.

Brian staged his 11^th Murder Mystery play,’ The Final Act’   last Summer, at the rear of Ardennes for two nights, which we felt really worked well, and then moved it to The Arden Theatre in November. He is always writing, and has no less than four brand new plays for 2009. ‘ Desperate Housewives of Faversham’  ‘ Signed In Blood’ , ‘ Death Before Departure’  and a one act drama called ‘ I Never Said Goodbye’ . His next big step is getting them published. He has already been given a couple of good contacts.

As always we constantly drive around the County looking for local suppliers. We found a special far just 5 miles out of Faversham. Willie Mckeever, who has supplied us with chickens and geese for the past 10 years, is retiring. He wrote to us telling us about a farm next door to him who is buying some of his land and his chicken stock. We went to visit them and were amazed at their set up. It is a Charity who runs The Royal School for Deaf Children. The school has its own educational farm where they rear rare breed pigs and lambs and Aberdeen Agnus Cattle. They now also have free range chickens and eggs and at Christmas, Turkeys. We are currently in talks with them to supply us and look forward to helping them promote their Charity. They are a Charity and always need financial support, so we hope that all our friends will also support this worthwhile group.

On the subject of new suppliers, we welcome a micro brewery in Newham. In the Wye Valley we found hand made cheeses, no less than 4 different varieties including a brie and a creamy camembert style cheese which is absolutely delicious.

Just a couple of miles outside of Faversham we have discovered a beautiful lively sparkling white wine from Throwley Vineyard, also a still dry white, using the Ortega grape. Yes…. a vineyard in Faversham.  Another new supplier is Barnsole Vineyard in Canterbury. We think it produces one of the best red wines in Kent. Which means, we have now introduced no fewer than 5 new Kent wines onto our list.

Brian has organised a long weekend trip to Boppard in Germany. This will coincide with Spring In The Middle Rhine Festival. The weekend involves staying at our sister Hotel in Germany and spending Sunday visiting several small producing vineyards. Stuart will be accompanying the trip as the ‘roving chef’ so it will mean the restaurant will be closed Friday 24^th, Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th April. If you wish to spend a few days in Boppard, which sits on the beautiful Rhine, then contact Brian, who will be able to organise a trip for you.

Incidentally, Brian had a glitch on his computer recently and lost his mailing list of people he sends out newsletters to by post. If by any chance you may know a friend or neighbour who didn’t received a newsletter by post last month, then can you please tell them to contact me. Luckily most of our readers are on email.

Looking ahead to 2009 in the restaurant.

On Friday 30th January, we will be having a Pudding Theme Night. A two course meal consisting of a choice of main course and sweet for £16.00pp

HANDMADE SAUSAGE & MASH NIGHT Friday 27^th February  £14.00pp

Choose from:

Pork, Leek and Stilton Sausages with Sweet Potato Mash.

Moroccan Style Lamb Sausages with Mash.

Turkey, Cranberry and Port Sausages with Parsnip Mash.

Vegetable Sausages with Swede and Potato Mash.

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Bread and Butter Pudding

Warm Chocolate Fudge Cake.

Homemade Rice Pudding.

VALENTINES DAY MENU ( Saturday 14^th February)

Please note that we will require a deposit to secure your table

Menu will be posted on website soon and printed in February’s Newsletter.

DATES FOR DIARY 2009

Friday 30^th January.………PUDDING NIGHT   £16.00pp

Saturday 14^th February….VALENTINES DAY  £40.00pp

(deposit required when booking)

Friday 27^th February………SAUSAGE & MASH NIGHT   £14.00pp

Sunday 22^nd March………..MOTHERING SUNDAY

Friday 27^th March………….PIE NIGHT