 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
Google search terms:
pubs, inns, restaurants, hotel, accommodation, cotswolds, UK,
food, drink, eat, old fleece, tipputs,
fostons ash, britannia, the old lodge,
stroud, gloucestershire.
Site by IsaacPartnership |
|
|
|
|
|
For Nick, formal Hotel training at the Cheltenham Park Hotel was followed by pub and beer cellar training with Youngs brewery at the Horse and Groom in Hampstead, London. After a period of heading up a team turning around failing businesses, Nick started his own business in London building up a small chain of wine bars on London's South Bank in the 1980s and followed this with a career in property management and construction.
After completing his Baccalauréat in his native Normandy, Christophe attended the Academy Des Beaus Arts, studying fine art and supplementing his income by designing and building sets at the Theatre of Cherbourg. An early career in catering followed, learning different cuisines in France, the Middle East and Caribbean.
After meeting in the 1991, Nick and Christophe decided to combine their talents and launched their present business from the Old Fleece in 1993.
Q & A - with the owners of Food Club, Nick Beardsley and Christophe Coquoin
Q. How long have you known each other?
A. 19 years.
Q. How did you meet?
A. At the Christening of Nick's son, Sebastion, at the family home in Cheltenham.
Q. What do you like best about each other?
A. We have complementary skills and working together remains a pleasure now we are entering our 18th year (moved into The Old Fleece @ 10.30 23/04/93).
Q. What's the nicest compliment you've ever had?
A. That the business we started 17 years ago at the Old Fleece remains popular with good reviews - the other nicest compliments are far too personal to share!
Q. Who would be your ideal fantasy dinner guest?
A. People who share our love of food and wine such as farmers, cheese makers and wine producers.
Q. What would be you ideal meal?
Christophe: although I rarely eat meat these days I do love the sausages from my native Normandy.
Nick: Christophe's family have a deep sea fishing boat and we have been fishing regularly, taking the children along from an early age. We catch lobster and crab that we cook in sea water but one of my favourite meals is mackerel cooked immediately after the trip on the BBQ. It is a great education for the children and 11 year old Tobias is the king of line catch and preparing for the table.
Q. What's your idea of a great night out?
A. Dining with good friends - you'd think we'd do that a lot, but we spend more time running the pubs than getting to eat in them, so its a real treat when we get the chance.
Q. And a great night in?
A. Cooking for good friends.
Q. What do you do to relax?
A.
Christophe and I have a house near the beach on the Normandy Peninsula where we spend time with the family and dogs enjoying great simple food, local cider and some fabulous wines.
Q. What's your favourite tipple?
A.We both enjoy a good chablis or Pouille Fume
|
| |
|
|
| |
Head Office - Old Fleece, Rooksmoor, Woodchester, Gloucestershire GL5 5NB |
|
|
|
