Well, where do I begin? It’s been some time since my last update, but that’s not because there’s been nothing to say – in fact, it’s quite the opposite, so buckle up and brace yourself… you’re in for a wild ride with this one.
What is 'normal' anymore, anyway?
We’re fully back into the swing of things here at The Maynard, with the easing of restrictions meaning we could throw open our doors and welcome the masses once again (not quite Black Friday at Tesco style, but equally as exciting).
The absolute heroic work of the nation’s care sector and volunteers to rollout the Covid vaccine has given confidence to many across the county, and we’ve loved seeing families enjoying the heatwave in our gardens.
We wouldn’t quite call it the ‘normal’ we once knew, but with weddings in full flow, school holidays upon us and the refurbishment of The George on track, the future is certainly looking bright.
Olympic-standard team
If there was ever a worldwide tournament where those in the hospitality sector could compete for a medal, our lot at The Maynard and The George would most definitely be on the podium. It brings a Tom Daley-style tear to my eye when I realise how proud I am of our staff.
Baby Lucia
First off, some baby news! Our extraordinary Wedding & Events Manager, Soraya, welcomed beautiful baby Lucia into the world on 28th June, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first cuddle.
Much like every Olympic Games does, General Manager Steve’s 4-year anniversary working for myself has come around quickly, and brings with it a promotion in recognition of his gold-standard service. Steve now takes on the role of Operations Manager for both The Maynard and The George!
Stepping into Steve’s shoes, we’re delighted to welcome Vicki, who joins The Maynard as General Manager. Vicki left behind a role in the big city with Metropolitan Pub Company to return home to her roots and we couldn’t be happier to have her on our team.
Speaking of General Managers, another familiar face has upped the ranks and accepted the challenge of managing The George – congratulations to Sally, our former Sales and Marketing Manager, on her promotion!
You’ll often hear me waxing lyrical about our G.O.A.T chef (that’s ‘Greatest Of All Time’, to you and me) – Adrian. Well, the title has been well and truly earned, as Adrian becomes Executive Head Chef to oversee both our NEW head chefs at The Maynard and The George.
I’m sure you’ll join me in welcoming new Head Chef, Greg Robinson, who has moved a mere 6 miles north from the White Lion at Great Longstone, and is ready to delight our diners at The Maynard.
Executive Head Chef Adrian
From slightly further afield, David Palfi waves goodbye to The Old Hall at Buxton, to make his mark as Head Chef at The George as we work towards its complete renovation.
Finally, how could I not mention our Josh, who started his career with myself as a fresh-faced 16-year-old, five years ago. Josh has more than earned a promotion to Deputy Manager of The George through his dedication and team spirit. Nice one, Josh!
I feel incredibly fortunate to spend my days with our phenomenal team family at Longbow Bars & Restaurants, and long may our strength as hospitality heroes continue.
Team GB? Make way for Team Longbow.
Unmissable shindigs
There’s no room for FOMO in our vocabulary (that’s Fear Of Missing Out, FYI). So, make sure you keep an eye on our social media for upcoming shenanigans at The Maynard.
Love movies? Love The Maynard? Why not have both? We’re dipping our toe into the world of outdoor cinema and hosting a film and food extravaganza in early September – you’d have to be Psycho to miss this.
Complete with sizzling barbecue food and a mouth-watering hog roast to get your Jaws into, you can get cosy in front of the big screen until The Dark Knight draws in.
Interested? You won’t need a Sixth Sense to find out what films we’ll be showing – we’re putting the choice to a public vote on The Social Network (Instagram and Facebook to be precise).
Still eager? Ok, if you REALLY want to make sure you get in early, email us at enjoymore@the-maynard.com and we’ll pop you on our list to bag those first tickets. It’s a Wonderful Life here at The Maynard, wouldn’t you say?
But we’re not about to stop there when it comes to being a multi-media venue…
If music is your thing, we still have our incredible live band performing every Sunday! Why not book a table?
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a long, icy refreshment now…