Stars Pubs & Bars invests £75,000 in chef training

It follows the successful trial of the scheme which gave support to 36 pubs during 2015.

The consultancy will focus on driving food sales to help licensees with every kind of food business.

Training chefs will spend at least two days working with licensees and their kitchen teams at each participating pub. Support will meet the bespoke needs of individual pubs but will address: menu development and new menu training; modern food presentation techniques; food quality and speed of service during peak trading times; increasing GP and yield control, and kitchen standards.

Licensees will also receive a comprehensive action plan of ideas, observations and practical solutions from the training chefs after their visit.

Independent chef consultancy firm, Food Development Services will deliver the support.

The initiative is a key part of Star Food, the pubcos food programme launched in 2015 to help reach its ambition for food to account for 50 per cent of its sales​ by 2020.

“Success is not just about delivering great food, it’s about making food a profitable income stream generating maximum sales for licensees,” said Lawson Mountstevens, managing director Star Pubs & Bars. “With considerations ranging from kitchen ergonomics to supplier negotiation it’s an incredibly complex and challenging area, especially for licensees without a catering background. “

Graham Anderson, licensee at the Eastfield Inn, Bristol was one of the licensees to receive the chef consultancy in 2015.

Anderson said: “This type of training is really, really good, particularly so for pubs that are just starting up, struggling with their food offer or changing it in some shape or form. It is very targeted to the individual pub concerned. The trainer listens to what you need to get out of it and helps you get there.”