Bacon & Egg Expert Cracks Employee Of Year Award

The chef responsible for helping thousands of guests to rise and shine and enjoy a great British start to the day has been named Ashdown Park’s Employee of the Year 2007.

Steve Adams, who lives in Uckfield, has a 30-year background in the hospitality and catering industry and originally worked in front of house positions. Having trained as a chef he decided to start looking for a position in a kitchen when he wanted a change of career and joined the country house hotel at Wych Cross, near Forest Row, two years ago.

Working weekdays from 6am to 2pm, on average Steve and his team serve up to 200 breakfasts a day. Guests at Ashdown Park can take their pick from a buffet and a la carte breakfast menu and despite a wealth of choice the traditional English breakfast of bacon and eggs remains the number one favourite.

“We use local sausages and bacon so it is that extra bit special,” said Steve.

Members of staff at Ashdown Park are nominated for awards by their department heads and Steve was delighted to hear he had won the top annual honour.

 “I have been involved in the industry for a long time so I was really pleased, and surprised, to hear I had won something at this stage in my career,” he said.

Steve won a two-night stay at a London hotel, with tickets for a theatre show of his choice, and was presented with his award by Elite Hotels Managing Director Graeme Bateman.

Runner-up was gardener Julie Brackenbury, who won a two-night stay at one of Ashdown Park’s sister hotels owned by Elite Hotels.

The 2007 Leader of the Year award went to former Reception Manager Christoph Kuehn, who won an overnight stay at a London hotel. Christoph recently transferred to Elite Hotels’ new five-star property, Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa in Bedfordshire, where he has been appointed Front of House Manager All managers and supervisors were eligible for the award and Christoph was picked as the winner for his leadership and motivational skills.

Mr Bateman said: “Ashdown Park has won many tourism industry awards over the years. All of these accolades are due to team work and the ongoing commitment of the members of staff, which is why we like to reward them with our own internal awards.”