galloping gourmet

December 4th — Plans for Curradine Barns expansion announced

Plans were unveiled today for a wonderful new building at the venue. This will house an intimate lounge and entrance hall as well as new, enlarged and improved toilet facilities. The current bar in the Granary Barn will increase in size as a result and ensure an even speedier and more comfortable drinks service. Additional creative works will be undertaken in the courtyard, ensuring that our statement that "this venue just gets more and more beautiful every day" is as true as ever.

November 22nd — Tasting Day

In response to huge customer demand, Galloping Gourmet held its first complimentary Client Tasting Day at our Surrey wedding venue, Coltsford Mill. Couples wanted to taste their food, meet the teams who will look after them on their Big Day and, of course, enjoy sampling the wines as well! All of these areas were covered during an enjoyable afternoon in the same dining room where the various couples will celebrate with their own friends and family in the months to come. A big success all round and an event we will host twice-yearly at each venue throughout the company. View an example of our Galloping Gourmet Tasting Menu (PDF document).

November 10th — Yateley's new venue is christened

The latest venue project continues to advance well with its ambitious building programme and is comfortably on schedule to make an impressive debut in 2009, straddling the counties of Hampshire and Surrey. The name Rivervale Barn was confirmed and we can't wait to start showing round what is already a long line of interested couples. Hard hats will be required for a few more months but that certainly won't deter the visitors.

November 8th — First Civil Partnership ceremony in Essex

We welcomed our first Civil Partnership ceremony and reception at Gaynes Park, Essex, today. David and Dale hosted a wonderful day with family and friends and our Events team thoroughly enjoyed planning it.

October 18th — Stanley Ayree celebrates ten years with Galloping Gourmet

Stanley has been Head of GG Porterage (i.e. porter services) in Surrey for the last couple of years, but started one cold autumn day back in 1998. When he arrived to help wash up piles of pots and pans dressed immaculately in shirt and tie, we immediately knew that Stan was our man! Congratulations on this anniversary to a much valued member of our Team.

October 1st — Kate Richards joins Galloping Gourmet as Corporate Sales Executive

Having played a major part in the successful launch of Wasing Park, Kate has joined us in London and will spearhead our activity in corporate and private work within our venues. She will be responsible for launching our new non-wedding web site and developing unique and competitive packages for businesses throughout London, the South and the Midlands.

October 1st — Enhanced Venue Support

Teresa Kelland promoted today to her role as Venue Support Manager. Teresa has been with Galloping Gourmet for over twelve years, working as Assistant Chef, Head Chef and most recently Event Manager at Coltsford Mill and brings with her an unrivalled expertise for ensuring all systems and good practice is applied throughout the company. In particular her responsibility as Galloping Gourmet Health and Safety Manager will ensure still greater attention to national policy and training changes as soon as they occur.

September 18th — Jane Wood joins Gaynes Park

With a creative background in floristry Jane understands organising weddings very well indeed, and with home just ten minutes away from Gaynes Park, Jane also brings with her a real love of the local area and a wealth of useful contacts. Brides and other clients will enjoy her enthusiastic and qualified support.

September 15th — Ashleigh Towndrow joins Coltsford Mill

With a great background in both wedding and corporate dining, Ashleigh joined Galloping Gourmet at Coltsford Mill today. Alongside some truly varied event organisation experience, Ashleigh’s appointment along with experienced Front of House Director Linda Robson in attendance, now allows the GG office at Coltsford to be open for business every day of the week, further enhancing client satisfaction in the run up to their event.

September 15th — Kerry Woodley joins Wasing Park

Kerry epitomises our ethos of keeping it local! Born and raised within the estate of Wasing, she is totally at one with the venue. Mum and dad still live there! Alongside that though she brings with her a wealth of experience that will enhance customer satisfaction at Wasing. She has cheffed locally as well as working as a great Toastmaster at numerous weddings and events throughout the county and beyond.

September 1st — Jane Norris promoted to Events Manager

Having enjoyed a very successful spell at Gaynes Park in Essex, Jane has relocated to Surrey and has started in her new role as Events Manager at Coltsford Mill. Jane is looking forward to bringing some additional expertise to food and food service to the Team and one or two innovations of her own that she has picked up on her extensive travels…

August 30th — Angus Hastie marries at Staple Inn and enjoys some fabulous food!

Director Angus Hastie marries Minna in our fabulous central London wedding venue and celebrates with a wonderful meal on a surprisingly hot summer’s day… about the only one in 2008! Apart from making him a very happy man, it’s also given him an opportunity to discover, from a client’s point of view, what planning for a wedding is like. (He reported back, "it was easy – I don’t know what all the fuss is about!").

August 15th — Racheal Taylor new relief chef at Galloping Gourmet

With a diverse and exciting background including stints with Alan Coxon, Hell’s Kitchen, the cruise liners of the Cunard fleet as well as cooking for the exacting standards of, amongst many others, Sir Elton John, Racheal brings with her an exciting ability to cook outstandingly well in a variety of different and challenging circumstances. Galloping Gourmet sought to find a candidate who could far exceed the usual expectations of industry emergency and holiday cover in order to ensure clients enjoy superb food even if the Head Chef is away. With Racheal in place we’ve managed it. She will be based alongside our Group Head Chef, Andrew Gotting, at the Curradine Barns in Worcestershire.

August 12th — Galloping Gourmet signs contracts at Yateley

After working with this venue for well over 3 years we are pleased to announce that GG Managing Director Simon Robson signed contracts today at this exciting new venue in Hampshire. The initial construction work is already well advanced and weddings will be welcomed by early 2009.

July 25th — New Galloping Gourmet bar in Worcestershire

Events Manager Penny Smith and Bar Manager Ray Beckett announced Galloping Gourmet as the new full time bar service at Curradine Barns. Our first full bar in the purpose built area is in late August. The bar itself has been designed with the local carpenter to ensure that it’s functional and fit for purpose, yet entirely in keeping with the beautiful environment of the main barn entrance.

July 12th — First wedding at Wasing Park followed the very next day by second wedding at Wasing Park!

With the final brick laid, quite literally, the day before, Wasing Park opened for business and immediately hosted two wonderful weddings in a serene, relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Our Events Manager, Jemma Garland, (formerly of The Vineyard) co-ordinated an entirely new team of local service staff with consummate skill – a great example of the comprehensive and hands-on approach of our Galloping Gourmet training programme.

July 3rd — New kitchen opens!

AA rosette-winning Head Chef Joe Cathers took hold of the keys of our new purpose built kitchen in Aldermaston today. Joe has worked alongside Heston Blumenthal at the Fat Duck and as Head Chef at the Running Horse and the Mill Arms, and now looks forward to incorporating his own sense of style and his passion for food using all the wonderful local produce. Pigeon, trout, rabbit, apples and delicious home-grown vegetables are literally right on the doorstep, just a brief morning walk away!

July 2nd — Gaynes Park contract renewed

Company directors Messrs Hastie and Robson signed Galloping Gourmet renewal contracts with owner Guy Chisenhale-Marsh at London’s Tate Modern today, ensuring our continued long term development in Essex. Champagne glasses duly raised!