From a poly tunnel to dining room

Three months in production and design we were ready to serve 300 very hungry gardeners. Gavin Jones Plantation in Addlestone was responsible for the latest challenge – turning one of the poly tunnels that usually houses many of the fine specimens of trees and shrubs into a glamorous dining room complete with chandeliers, a jazz band and special effect lighting on the trees. The usual suspects were around being Chewie and Donkey, and Harold breezed in at some point. One thing to mention is a big thank you t Vicky for peeling one carrot an hour,  The onsite management were to be my service team – interesting would be a bold term? With plates and soup all over the place Chef (me) had to retain order in the kitchen and with a few suitably choice words we were back on track. 300 plated Christmas lunches and Christmas puddings later it was 4.30 and lots of wobbly gardeners were making their way into the frosty night as we pulled the rig down and supped wine; well not me as I was driving but Chewie managed to work her way through her usual bottle or two. A merry time was had!

À la prochaine fois to Sara and thank you for all your hard work over the summer; ) – looking forward to next year’s campaign!!