CMOs say Coronavirus threat level can be reduced - meaning 2m rule could be dropped
'In what has been an extremely tough time, we have all had to make the right commercial decisions'
Coronavirus: Disappointment for the hospitality industry as they must remain closed
Coronavirus: 62% of people plan to spend as much or more than they did before on eating out
The coronavirus pandemic has changed public attitudes towards those considered "unskilled"
Coronavirus: furlough job retention scheme extended until October
Coronavirus: ‘My industry wants to go back to work, we can do this, but we need clear guidelines’
Coronavirus: Male chefs among those most likely to die with COVID-19, says Office of National Statistics
Coronavirus: Will the hospitality industry be able to start reopening in July?
KnifeOfBrian: Tips and ideas to keep chefs sane through Coronavirus lockdown
Coronavirus: ‘There will be no cliff edge to the furlough scheme’
Former MasterChef winner Simon Wood announced that Wood Chester, located inside Hotel Indigo on Grosvenor Road which opened 12 months ago would not reopen following closure due to coronavirus restrictions.
Saying it 'no longer fits' into the adaptions staff have had to make in the wake of the pandemic, and its new casual operation is not in keeping with the luxurious hotel.
He said: "We have made the decision to change the focus of what we offer at Wood and in Manchester we are adapting to cope with the changes forced on us by the COVID-19 pandemic whilst also refining the dining experience to offer our guests the very best of my food.
"This means that we are stripping the menus back to focus only on my five, seven and ten course tasting menus alongside a three course, fixed price A Taste of WOOD menu.
"This has meant that the restaurant in Chester doesn’t quite fit into this plan anymore. The operating restrictions have meant that a different, more casual offering is more suited to the hotel and that as we take our brand in the opposite direction we have taken the decision to step away from Hotel Indigo in Chester."
Simon added: "It has been a great experience, we loved getting to know the city and working with the team at Castlebridge who own and manage the hotel - but in what has been an extremely tough time, we have all had to make the right commercial decisions.”
He has however revealed that Wood Manchester will be reopening from Friday July 10 along with a new menu.
Speaking to About Manchester, he said: “Being in lock-down has given me the opportunity to reflect on the WOOD Manchester journey so far, revisit my vision for accessible fine dining, and my commitment to the city I love. I’ve been spending time developing new dishes and making plans to enhance the current offering.
“When we reopen WOOD Manchester, I’ll be launching a new menu format in keeping with my vision for the restaurant and the style of food that I want to present to our guests. Sadly, this does mean that we will be saying goodbye to some WOOD Manchester classics, but I am excited by what we are going to be offering to diners.”
In these challenging times…
The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall and restrict access – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.
Over the last 12 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 500,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.
A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.
Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.
Support Us
CONTRIBUTE
'In what has been an extremely tough time, we have all had to make the right commercial decisions'
CMOs say Coronavirus threat level can be reduced - meaning 2m rule could be dropped
Coronavirus: Disappointment for the hospitality industry as they must remain closed
Coronavirus: 62% of people plan to spend as much or more than they did before on eating out
The coronavirus pandemic has changed public attitudes towards those considered "unskilled"
Coronavirus: furlough job retention scheme extended until October
Coronavirus: ‘My industry wants to go back to work, we can do this, but we need clear guidelines’
Coronavirus: Male chefs among those most likely to die with COVID-19, says Office of National Statistics
Coronavirus: Will the hospitality industry be able to start reopening in July?
KnifeOfBrian: Tips and ideas to keep chefs sane through Coronavirus lockdown
Coronavirus: ‘There will be no cliff edge to the furlough scheme’
