Front of House Team of the Year

Catherine Koch and their team - The Peacock at Rowsley

When Longbow Venues took on The Peacock at Rowsley in January 2025, we knew it was our greatest risk. This much loved 17th century manor on the Haddon Estate, with its 3 AA Rosette restaurant, was losing money. We arrived as a pub and restaurant group that had never run a fine dining hotel and turned everything upside down: new systems, new stock controls, budget discipline and lower prices. Over the next six months, due to the changes that are always difficult when any venue is acquired, most of the established kitchen team left, and for a long time the future wasn't clear.

Front of House Operations Manager Laura Ball and Food and Beverage Manager Valentine Blain have been at The Peacock for years. They adore this place and are fiercely protective of it. While everything changed around them, and they watched their friends and long time colleagues in the kitchen leave, they held the front of house together with grace and professionalism. We wouldn't have blamed them for leaving. But they stayed, and we're so grateful they did. They ensured guests never felt the stress behind the scenes.

Today they have formal job titles they have always deserved, and they are owning them, working with confidence and real commercial skill. Under General Manager Catherine Koch, the whole team has become close-knit, full of energy and profitable. Their service is impeccable at The Peacock at Rowsley. It's warm, personal and discreet. They anticipate what guests need before they have to ask, whether that's remembering a favourite wine, replacing a fresh linen napkin or bringing additional treats to surprise and delight guests. One independent reviewer said there is "a humanity here that has been lost in many luxury hotels." What makes this team special is how closely front of house and kitchen work together.

Head Chef Simon Harrison arrived in November 2025 and has spent the months since rebuilding his brigade. Before every new menu, the whole team tastes every dish and wine pairing together, so front of house recommends with genuine knowledge and pride. They celebrate each other's successes and support one another through the hard days. Guests notice. Since Longbow took over, 80% of Tripadvisor reviews have been five stars. The Peacock holds 9.2 on Booking.com and 4.6 on Google. The 3 AA Rosettes have been retained, and the business is now profitable for the first time since we took over. This team has never stood still. With Simon's latest menu showing what this kitchen can really do, they are already looking ahead to new ways of making every visit better and aiming for Michelin accolades to add to their 3 AA Rosettes. The Peacock at Rowsley was saved, and it was saved by this wonderful, dedicated team. We could not be prouder of every single one of them.