New Chef Mentors Appointed by Shepherd Neame

Five Shepherd Neame head chefs have been handpicked to become mentors across the family brewer’s retail estate in London and the South East.

The chefs are:

• Steve Harmsworth of the Marine Hotel, Whitstable;
• Ellina Smith of The Wharf, Dartford;
• Alistair Lycett of The Sun, Faversham;
• Matt Booker of the Botany Bay Hotel, Broadstairs, and
• Krystian Jasiczek of Mabel’s Tavern, London.

They have been chosen in recognition of their experience and outstanding skills, and will now undergo management training to become mentors. They will be on-hand for new chef inductions and ongoing support in menu development across the 52-strong retail estate. 

It is part of an enhanced training programme spearheaded by Simon Howlett, Shepherd Neame’s head development chef for managed houses, to ensure structured career development and encourage excellence.

In addition to peer-to-peer mentoring, the programme also comprises intensive one-day workshops held biannually.

The five new mentors were presented with personalised chef whites at the latest workshop, which included training 50 chefs and assistant chefs in butchering, preparing and cooking different cuts of meat, along with a refresher course on food hygiene and kitchen safety.