|
David and Christine
Tearle of The Coterie in Birchfield Road, Widnes, have won a Punch Taverns
Shine award in the category Best Food Experience.
A husband and wife team
who have built up a thriving restaurant and wine bar business are
celebrating after winning a prestigious industry award for the quality of
its food.
Judges were so impressed with their entry that they were also crowned Shine
awards champion for the region. It means they now progress to a national
final along with 15 other Punch winners to compete for a £1,000 top prize
plus a two week luxury holiday.
David, who heads a team of eight chefs at The Coterie, whilst Christine
manages front of house. said: “We were surprised to win and delighted too.
We have not gone out to try and win awards, we just want to have build a
good clientele and look after them.
“This award is the first big accolade we have had and the whole team is very
excited about the news.
David and Christine took on the premises, then called The Globe, three years
ago. Since then they have changed its name to The Coterie, carried out a
re-design, extended the premises and built a growing reputation for quality
food.
Some 50 people now work at The Coterie, which attracts customers not only
from the Widnes area but also from Chester, Liverpool and Manchester. A
£350,000 investment programme was carried out in conjunction with Punch in
January 2005 to extend the restaurant, which can now seat up to 126 people.
The restaurant offers quality, fresh produce with an extensive a la carte
menu. There is a separate lunch menu with 35 different dishes, and a
traditional roast option on Sundays.
Both David and Christine have had many years of experience in the
hospitality industry and have both held senior management positions in top
class hotels. David’s catering experience dates back to the start of his
working life, as a commis chef in Bath and he is also a former wine
merchant.
“ Hospitality is a very rewarding business,” said Christine. “David and I
work well together as a team, combining his expertise as a chef and mine as
front of house manager to offer our customers a pleasant and relaxed dining
experience.”
Punch Taverns’ regional operations director Mark Chapman said:
“David and Chistine have built up an excellent reputation for the quality of
their food and have made The Coterie a real success story. I congratulate
them and their staff, they are worthy Shine award winners.”
The Shine awards are Punch Taverns’ annual reward and recognition scheme for
licensees. Awards are presented in four categories – Best Food Experience,
Drinks Experience, Customer Experience and Community Experience.
11th February 2006 |
