Friday Five: the week's top news
- Suffolk’s The Unruly Pig has been named the best gastropub in the UK in the Estrella Damn Top 50 Gastropubs 2022 list. The Unruly Pig has moved up from last year’s 10th place, when it also won the Highest Climber category. It is one of five East Anglian pubs in this year’s list, more than ever before. The pub is owned by Brendan Padfield who took on the pub following a 36-year career as a solicitor. However, within just 12 weeks of opening, a fire destroyed large parts of the building forcing it to close for six months. During this period changes were made to the structure and feel of the pub to make it more welcoming and accessible. It entered the Estrella Damn Top 50 Gastropubs list in 2017 and has also been named by the Michelin Guide as one of the top six food pubs in the east of England.
- Corbin & King co-founder and CEO Jeremy King has vowed to buy back the group that bears his and business partner Chris Corbin's name after it was placed into administration earlier this week by major shareholder Minor Hotels. Minor Hotels, which acquired a majority stake in the group back in 2017, says that joint administrators have been appointed after Corbin & King Limited, the holding company for the London-based restaurant group which operates The Wolseley, Brasserie Zédel and The Delaunay, was 'unable to meet its financial obligations'. The appointment of administrators does not affect the operations of the restaurants within the group, which continue to trade. Describing the move by Minor as a power play, King says he and co-founder Chris Corbin planned to buy Corbin & King Limited out of administration: “There is absolutely no need to go into administration – we are trading extremely well and all suppliers, staff etc continue to be paid. It is a power play for the holding company – and we plan to thwart the move by buying it back out of administration.” It has subsequently been reported that American investment fund Knighthead Capital Management fund has tabled a £38m offer to keep London-based group's restaurants afloat.
- Former Moor Hall chefs Jamie Butler and Lewis Spencer will head up the kitchen at patisserie and restaurant Richoux’s Piccadilly venue when it reopens next month. Relaunching on 23 February the new Richoux will have new design, with its recognised red exterior being replaced with a navy blue one. As with the previous incarnation the interior will be Gallic inspired and will feature low-hanging vintage chandeliers and a patisserie counter with pale blue banquette seating at the front of the venue. Lewis and Spencer, who met while working at Moor Hall in Lancashire, have worked at restaurants including two Michelin starred L’enclume, three Michelin starred Eleven Madison Park in New York and two Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Their all-day menu will pay homage to the grand brasseries of Paris with dishes including French onion soup; Welsh rarebit and croque monsieur alongside plates of Mediterranean prawns; and raw tuna and watermelon. Larger plates will include salmon a la plancha with wild rice, artichokes, lemon and pickled cucumber; grilled chicken paillard in a citrus gremolata, served with rocket and toasted almonds; and crispy duck salad with hoisin dressing, candied cashew, spring onion and gem lettuce.
- BrewDog CEO James Watt is facing mounting pressure after being accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women and abuse of power in the workplace. More than 15 former members of staff have spoken out against Watt with some claiming he made female bartenders feel 'uncomfortable'. Some were advised by colleagues on how to avoid unwelcome attention from the BrewDog cofounder, according to an investigation by BBC Scotland’s Disclosure programme. Watt has said the allegations are false and denies behaving inappropriately.
- Hélène Darroze will lead the panel of judges for the Roux Scholarship final 2022 as Honorary President of Judges. The French chef, who runs Michelin starred restaurants in Paris and London, will join the judging panel that also includes Alain Roux, Michel Roux Jr, Brian Turner CBE, Sat Bains, André Garrett, Simon Hulstone, James Martin, Clare Smyth MBE, Rachel Humphrey and Angela Hartnett OBE. “I am looking forward to discovering the young talent that can be found in the kitchens across Britain,” says Darroze. “It will be a great honour to be leading the judging panel at the national final in April.”
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