FINESTthe

Summer 2013 news from Milsom Hotels & Restaurants

NEW LOOK LE TA L B O OTH

SET FOR SUMME R

THE MH&R CAR D

Spring 2013 page 1FINESTthe

WELCOME SUMMER

S U MM ER BY T HE SEA

At last we can look forward to summer. The spring may have been a long time in coming but it has meant that we’ve had the full benefit of our fabulous displays of tulips and we have never had so many great comments.

On a hot summer’s day or warm summer evening, there’s no better place to visit than Harwich. Walk along the sea wall, watch the yachts go by, marvel how the Trinity House pilots guide the ships into port, stroll along the Ha’penny Pier and chat to the fishermen or simply soak up the sun on The Pier terrace.

This year, The Pier celebrates its 35th anniversary so we are offering the Ultimate Seafood Experience – a Fruits de Mer (Harwich lobster and crab, Mersea oyster, winkles, shell on prawns, langoustine, cockles, razor clams and whelks) with a chilled bottle of Chablis for £70 for two. Available at lunch or dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, this does need to be booked in advance. Call The Pier on 01255 241212 for ‘an experience not to be missed’!

Following on from the success of afternoon tea at the Maison and Kesgrave Hall, the Pier team have decided to introduce a full afternoon tea which can be taken either in the Ha’penny Bistro or on the terrace every afternoon from 2.00 – 5.00pm for £16.60 per person.

Other NewsNEW LOOK FOR MH&R NEWSLETTERAs you may have noticed our newsletter has been given a fresh new look. It is now a smaller, more manageable format but still has all the same great stories and news. We hope you like it. Why not find us on Facebook and let us know what you think.

A FEW WORDS ON OUR HOTEL RATESWe’re pleased to say that full English breakfast, water, juices and Coke from the mini bar and Wi-Fi are all included at no extra cost. Plus if you’re on a dinner, bed and breakfast package, you’ll be given free choice from the full a la carte menu.

MH&R CHARITY BIKE RIDEA big thankyou to all those who took part in the Charity bike ride, see Facebook for more details.

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ur gardens are one of the special pleasures of visiting us over the next few months. Marc Everett of Horizon Landscapes is our “ Chef de Jardin” and he and his team remain somewhat unsung heroes. Their hard work and passion ensure that our gardens are stunning, so do come and see them.

The winter is of course, the time when we do most of our big capital projects and once again there has been no let up on our investment programme. All the public areas at milsoms Kesgrave Hall and milsoms Dedham have been re-carpeted and the painters have been much in evidence everywhere, but of course the big news here is the fabulous remodelling of Le Talbooth. Designed by my wife Geraldine, I am bound to be biased, but we have been thrilled with the response from all our customers. Changing a restaurant with as much history as Le Talbooth is a potential banana skin and I had a number of worried conversations with customers in the run up to the big change. However, we have rarely created a new design that has been so immediately liked, and by all ages too.

This fresh new look is the perfect platform for the incredibly exciting cooking of Head Chef Zack Deakins, who has just completed his first year with us, and means Le Talbooth is the area’s newest restaurant rather than the oldest. In fact why not make it the perfect evening to remember by staying at Maison Talbooth, which has just been named by the Independent as one of the top 10 Luxury Hotels in Britain. If you are dining in the week we often have some fantastic last minute room rates, and with the ‘barbecue’ summer ahead why not come enjoy our pool as well?

Look forward to seeing you soon.

Paul Milsom Managing Director

O

Spring 2013 page 2FINESTtheALL SET FOR SUMMER

RecrEATe

At this time of year we all feel optimistic about the summer ahead – and we’re sure it’s time for a hot one! Our business is great at all times of the year, BUT it does come into its own during the summer months. The combination of our gardens, outside seating and all day dining at the brasseries lends itself to relaxing summer days.

The addition of the iconic ‘sails’ at milsoms in Dedham, Le Talbooth and Kesgrave Hall make dining outside a reality whatever the weather – helped by some strategically placed heaters!

A COOKERY B O O K F O R TH E F IR ST 6 DECADES

GERALD MILSOM LONG SERVICE DINNERIn April, as is customary, we celebrated the long service of our staff with the 8th Gerald Milsom Long Service dinner. All staff who have been with the company for over five years are invited. This year we hosted 73 members of staff together with family and friends. Pictured here with Paul and Geraldine are some 30 members of staff who gained their 5 and 10 year awards in 2013.

In a slight change from normal, Paul commissioned Natasha Stanbridge to film the awardees in a ‘Milsom Hotels have Talent’ video. The verdict? We definitely have talent!

RecrEATe does what it says on the cover. Launched in 2012 for our 60th anniversary, the production of the book was a key part of our celebrations. The book gives you the opportunity to recreate some of our most popular dishes at home. RecrEATe was the brainchild of Operations Director Stas Anastasiades who spent the best part of a year chivvying the Head Chef’s for their recipes, then compiling, writing and re-writing all the menus in the book. Comments about the detailed instructions have been very favourable and we have not had to set up a hot line to handle recipe queries! They just work. The images in the book were taken by Lara Holmes. They have captured the spirit of our business and will certainly inspire you to have a go.

Priced at £25.00 RecrEATe can be purchased at a Milsom Hotel or Restaurant near you or ordered on line at www.milsomhotels.com/giftvouchers

Paul and Geraldine Milsom with members of staff celebrating their long service

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Spring 2013 page 3FINESTthe

2013 – A BRAND NEW LOOK FOR LE TALBOOTH2012 was the 60th anniversary of our business and we recognised this important milestone in a number of ways

throughout the year. However, we felt that it was fitting to also mark the occasion at Le Talbooth, where our business began, with a major reinvestment into the entire customer facing areas to start the next sixty years in style.

asterminded by Geraldine Milsom, the challenge was to strike the balance between the call of the modern and that of the past, with an obvious need to be sympathetic to this fabulous listed building.

This was achieved through the lightening of all the beams, a muted colour palette and smaller lighter leather chairs. Space has been more effectively utilised with the addition of some very comfortable banquette seating. The individual table lamps, designed especially for us by iPower Cordless Lighting, a local company, are now known as ‘The Milsom Lamp’. In the evening they create a warm intimate atmosphere, as you can see in the photograph. The River Room, Old Room, Bar and the Weavers Room on the first floor have been given the same treatment so there is a cohesive look across the whole restaurant for the first time.

However super the environment, great restaurants are primarily about great food and one of the reasons we approached this investment with confidence was the appointment of Zack Deakins as Head Chef in January last year. Drawing from East Anglia’s rich bounty of produce, Zack’s cooking is modern British in style, exploiting natural flavours and textures with great skill and a light touch. This, coupled with the new look restaurant, makes dining at Le Talbooth an unforgettable experience. Comments from our guests have been overwhelmingly positive. Do come and see for yourself.

PAINTINGS BY JAMIE DODDSSelecting the art work was one of the key decisions we needed for the restaurant, but it was not a difficult one as we have had a long association with Jamie.

His paintings have been much admired in the Harbourside at The Pier and we felt that the structural nature of the paintings of boats mirrors the wooden beams at Le Talbooth.

Jamie has recently been involved in the restoration of the Stour lighter ‘the John Constable’, so it seemed particularly fitting that the paintings would be of the barge that travelled the river Stour in the 1880’s.

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Spring 2013 page 4FINESTthe

HAVE YOU BEEN TO DEDHAM’S NEW RESTAURANT?

Maison Talbooth has become a really popular destination for afternoon teas and it is also developing a lunchtime following in the Garden Room. In the summer, there

is simply no better place than on the terrace overlooking the Vale.

Head Chef Neil Arkley has developed some delicious lunchtime dishes to match the stunning location, such as crab and chilli linguini, crispy spring onions, cheeseburger with skinny fries and aioli, Maison antipasti, soused vegetables and crusty bread and peach and blueberry crumble, crème anglaise or raspberry ripple knickerbocker glory.

You do need to book, so call Maison Talbooth on 01206 322367 for a table.

5 YE ARS AT KESGRAVE HALL

TH E ULT I MATE PARTY

2008 was a significant year for Milsom Hotels. Not only did we re-open Maison Talbooth following a major investment programme but in April we also hit the Suffolk restaurant and hotel scene with the opening of Kesgrave Hall. Running with the original concept devised at milsoms in Dedham of ‘eat, drink, stay’, Kesgrave Hall benefited from the same kind of restaurant and public spaces as milsoms but on a larger scale.

When the hotel opened there were only 15 bedrooms in the main house but within a year 8 further rooms were added and a unique meeting and private dining space called The Bunker was created. The Hangar, which can seat up to 250 for private parties, has also been developed. Last year we started Christmas Parties which proved to be really popular. This year we’ve added another couple of dates, so if you’re looking for a party venue with friends or business colleagues, The Hangar could be just right for you.

Five years on the business has exceeded all our expectations and is one of our most flexible properties. It now offers:

- 23 bedrooms- All day brasserie - Fabulous ‘sail’ on the terrace for outside dining- The Mess- The Bunker- The Hangar- 38 acres of lawn and woodland to explore

Are you struggling for inspiration for a special birthday or anniversary?

Look no further, we have the perfect solution at Maison Talbooth. Here are a couple of ideas; dinner in the Garden Room for 24 to 30 or a poolside BBQ for up to 80 or you could have bowl food and dancing in the Garden Room. These are just a few possibilities but we’re always welcome to suggestions! Relax, it doesn’t need to cost a fortune. There’s no hire charge and we find friends and family are more than happy to chip in and stay in the bedrooms. This means you get exclusive use of the hotel with the outdoor pool, hot tub and tennis court.

We’ve seen some brilliant parties at Maison Talbooth and everyone leaves with special memories of an enjoyable stay. Summer weekends can be busy but we’ve several mid-week dates still available. Give the hotel a call on 01206 322367 to discuss further.

CAPTURED ON FILM...We mentioned Natasha Stanbridge earlier in the newsletter but we’re delighted by the way she has captured the spirit of our business on film. We shoot new videos all the time and they can be viewed on the Milsom Hotels YouTube channel but if you let us have your email address, they’ll be sent to you as and when they are produced. Either sign up on our website or email suebunting@milsomhotels.com

The Christmas video is always great fun and involves everyone (including Paul, Geraldine, Charlie and Jack) and is our way of wishing you a happy Christmas. We guarantee to put a smile on your face and get you in to the Christmas spirit. Natasha is already planning for Christmas 2013!

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ASCOT DAYSWednesday 19th and Thursday 20th JuneAll the fun of the racecourse without having to travel and with the added bonus of a Champagne reception, an excellent four course lunch, on site bookies, TV screens for the racing and the fashion (of course!) and river trips on board Stour Trusty.

£92.00 per person

JAZZ AT LE TALBOOTHGwyneth Herbert comes to the Roman River Festival. Thursday 26th September in the marquee.

£55 per person For more details please call 01206 729 356.

RIVERSIDE BARBECUESA firm favourite with everyone. The Riverside Barbecues have become an institution. Early in the New Year we get calls asking ‘have you got the barbecue dates yet?’. We now have the dates (Sundays from June – September and Mondays in August), but all everyone really wants to know is which week the Jazz or Steel bands are playing.

Check the website or pick up information at any of our properties.

£40 per person

With 2 course barbecue (hog roast, Chef’s paella, salmon, sausages, selection of salads, dessert, coffee and chocolates).

MARQUEE BARBECUESAnother sought after event in the marquee at Le Talbooth. Just like the Riverside BBQ’s but with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, 2 course barbecue (see Riverside BBQ’s), coffee and chocolates and dancing to either the Jazz or Steel bands with DJ Dreamwave Events.

£45 per person

Only 3 dates available – Saturday 8th June, Saturday 17th August and Sunday 25th August.

Certain dates are always popular, so book soon to avoid disappointment - 01206 323150.

We have a series of events planned at Le Talbooth over the next few months, as you know the riverside setting is always idyllic,especially in the summer. For bookings please call 01206 323150

LE TALBOOTH EVENTS

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MAKING THE MOST OF OUR MARQUEEWhat could be better than entertaining at Le Talbooth? Lush green lawns, beside the river Stour, fabulous food, wines and service –

need we say more! Although the marquee is busy at the weekends for weddings and parties, we do have several mid-week dates available for a cocktail or barbecue party. With this in mind we have put together two different packages which fit the bill.

If you’d like to know more, give Le Talbooth a call on 01206 323150.

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COCKTAIL PARTIESIdeal for networkingA selection of canapés½ bottle of sparkling wine or house winefrom £25 + vat per person*

or

SUMMER PARTYA casual lunchtime or evening barbecueGlass of Pimms on arrival2 course informal barbecue½ bottle of house winefrom £35 + vat per person*

If you’d like music, we can book our DJ at an additional cost

*Marquee hire is included

FULLY BOOKED

Spring 2013 page 6FINESTtheTALBOOTH CATER INGOur event catering team goes from strength to strength.

MH&R CARD BENEF ITS

Here’s a quick resume of the benefits we’renow offering:

discount on all food at Le Talbooth

discount on all food in the Harbourside

discount on all individual accommodation bookings

discount on lunch and afternoon tea at Maison Talbooth

discount on all food at the Ha’penny Pier, milsoms and milsoms Kesgrave Hall

discount off individual spa treatments

Exclusive invitation to the MH&R Card Cocktail Party held in April or May at Le Talbooth

First to know of any offers or special events

The cost is £60 for single membership, £100 joint membership or £200 for a business membership.

Terms & conditions apply

If you’re interested and want more information, pick up an application form at any of our properties or email Sue at suebunting@milsomhotels.com and she’ll be delighted to send you the details.

THE MH&R CARD

Geoff Johnson who has been with us for four years has recently been appointed Head Chef with overall responsibility for all our outside catering events

Aaron Skerritt, who was Sous Chef at Le Talbooth, has now become the Hengrave Hall Head Chef with Stevyn Nash joining the team as Hengrave Hall Events manager. One of the advantages of Talbooth Catering is that we bring with us the same level of service and cooking as guests expect when they dine in the restaurant. This means that our reputation has grown and in addition to the weddings and private events the team handle, there are a number of more public events, which we have listed below and can recommend.

The Suffolk Show, at Trinity Park will be held this year on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May and we will be in the VIP marquee.

Hopkins International Polo 29th June 2013 at Trinity Park, once again we are catering in the VIP and Members Tent.

Tendring Hundred Show held every year at Lawford Park is on Saturday 13th July. We’re also delighted to be offered the chance to cater for the Tendring Show Ball at the beginning of July.

2012 was not good for these important local shows, hopefully this year we’ll be walking around in the sunshine.

For many years we’ve run the Talbooth and Harbourside Club which has offered members a special rate in our two fine dining restaurants, but we’ve often been asked for additional benefits to be used at all our hotels and restaurants. We have at last achieved this and are now able to extend extra benefits across the entire group. This means that by becoming a card holder you gain a range of preferential rates in all our properties.

So whether it’s the wonderful settings of Le Talbooth and the Harbourside or the hustle and bustle of the brasseries at milsoms, Kesgrave Hall or the Ha’penny Pier, there really is something for everyone. We haven’t forgotten the accommodation with special rates in all the hotels and why not enjoy the luxury of a quiet lunch or afternoon tea at Maison Talbooth and a visit to the Treatment Rooms?

Every cardholder will also be invited to our annual cocktail party in the marquee at Le Talbooth. The card is not transferable so do think about a joint membership if this applies, to allow everyone in the household to take advantage of the new card.

BROADBAND REVOLUTION AT KESGRAVE HALL

milsoms Kesgrave Hall is installing the fastest, cleanest broadband in the UK.

In an exciting partnership with Cisco, the existing telephone system is being upgraded to allow guests to receive and place calls without lifting the handset. These sets are video capable and voice over internet (VOP) will allow for state of the art conference calls with no feedback or crossover during call. The broadband speed will increase substantially from the existing 2/4MB service to an amazing 120MB+.

This will mean extended coverage in the hotel and grounds, allowing guests to sit on the lawn or terrace and stay connected using all types of device, whether smart phone, tablet or laptop. Video conferencing can be set up in the meeting rooms. For example, we could hold wine tasting in the Bunker and include producers from New Zealand and/or Chile to introduce their wines while they were being tasted. The Cisco system will revolutionise corporate business at Kesgrave Hall, and will also enhance the facilities we offer to our leisure guests.

If you need to know more, call the Kesgrave team on 01473 333741. Don’t forget that Wi-Fi is free at all our hotels and restaurants – as it should be!

Stevyn Nash

Aaron Skerritt Geoff Johnson

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Spring 2013 page 7FINESTthe

T HE MAGNIF ICENT HENGRAVE HALLAwarded ‘Best wedding venue in the East of England’

Our partnership with Hengrave Hall is now in its fourth year and the venue has become one of the leading wedding venues in the country. We’re already taking enquiries for bookings in 2015.

We were delighted to hear that Hengrave Hall won ‘Best Wedding Venue in the East of England’ in the recent Wedding Industry Awards 2013. Hengrave Hall is a property of superlatives. Every care has been taken to breathe life back into this magnificent Tudor building and our staff love working there. The feedback we receive has been extremely positive and the major benefits of holding an event at Hengrave are:

- Exclusive use of the building and grounds

- Talbooth Catering

- Church for services and blessings

- Individual rooms for the Bride, Bridegroom and family, children’s room

- Civil Ceremony Room

- Separate area for dancing – either band or DJ

- Courtyard and terrace for drinks reception or quiet areas

- Thirty bedrooms and breakfast room for overnight guests

NEWSL ETTER SPEC IAL O FFER SUMMER BREAK

We’re delighted to offer a special Newsletter Summer break available at all our hotels. To receive the following, mention this offer at time of booking:

- Three course dinner (free choice from the a la carte menu)

- overnight accommodation in the best available room and full English breakfast

- £95.00 per person at milsoms in Dedham and Kesgrave Hall

- £100.00 per person at The Pier (dinner in the Harbourside)

Love Summer

DINNER WITH HENRY BLOFELD AT LE TALBOOTHWe’re always delighted to get a call from Henry. He loves to organise a dinner and knows we’ll have a fun time listening to his anecdotes. The dinner coincides with the launch of his latest book ‘Squeezing the Orange’. So if you enjoy listening to Test Match Special this event could be just right ‘you dear old thing!’ £50 per person for glass of sparkling wine, three course dinner, coffee and chocolates.

Thursday 17th October, please call Alex on 01206 321105 to book.

A TOPICAL PICTURE FROM THE

ARCHIVESThe picture below shows Lady Thatcher

and Gerald Milsom at a Conservative Party fundraising event in 1994.

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“THE FONZ”Henry Winkler ‘The Fonz’ visited Le Talbooth recently. We managed to take a picture with Paul and Geraldine’s youngest son, Jack.

Happy Days!

LE TALBOOTH

Le Talbooth, Gun Hill, Dedham,Colchester CO7 6HPTel: 01206 323150talbooth@milsomhotels.com

TALBOOTH CATERING

Talbooth Catering, Gun Hill, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HPTel: 01206 323150talbooth@milsomhotels.com

THE TREATMENT ROOMS

Maison Talbooth, Stratford Road, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HNTel: 01206 322367treatmentrooms@milsomhotels.com

WEDDINGS

for more information visit:www.milsomweddings.com

PRIVATE DINING

for more information visit:www.milsomhotels.com/privatedining

MEETINGS

for more information visit:www.milsomhotels.com/meetings

‘the finest places to eat, drink, stay.’

THE PIER

The Pier, The Quay, Harwich CO12 3HHTel: 01255 241212pier@milsomhotels.com

MAISON TALBOOTH

Maison Talbooth, Stratford Road, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HNTel: 01206 322367maison@milsomhotels.com

HOUSEPARTIES

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milsoms

milsoms, Stratford Road, Dedham,Colchester CO7 6HWTel: 01206 322795milsoms@milsomhotels.com

milsoms KESGRAVE HALL

Kesgrave Hall, Hall Road, KesgraveIpswich, Suffolk IP5 2PUTel: 01473 333741reception@kesgravehall.com