Farncombe Catering Star Among UK’S Best

A rising catering star from Worcestershire is following in the footsteps of celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Marco Pierre White after winning a prestigious hospitality award.

Twenty-two year old Francesca Brennan – known as Frankie – received an Acorn Award this week, marking her out as one of the 30 brightest young talents in the hospitality industry. She was the youngest recipient of this year’s award.

The award ceremony took place on Monday 24 September, at Bovey Castle in North Devon.

Frankie works for independent catering company, Wilson Vale, as assistant catering manager at Farncombe, home of the Cotswold Conference Centre and Farncombe Courses, in Worcestershire.

Commenting on her success, Frankie said: “I am over the moon with being named one of this year’s Acorn award winners. The hospitality industry is definitely my passion and I hope that this amazing accolade cements my future within it.”

Frankie oversees private dining services at Farncombe, an award-winning venue near Broadway, and is responsible for the management of a busy on-site bar. She also supports her catering manager with delegate catering - for up to 170 people a day - and front and back-of-house services.

In February this year, Frankie also won a South West Tourism Award for her Outstanding Customer Service.

Richard Howdle, operations manager at Farncombe, said: “Frankie has been ever-popular with colleagues and customers since she joined the team here at Farncombe.

“She is relatively young for someone in her position but she is totally calm under pressure, is thoroughly professional in everything she does and is always smiling, which is great to see.

“This award is well deserved and she undoubtedly has a great future in the industry.”

Cotswold Conference Centre is a modern meeting, training and teambuilding venue, which plays host to Farncombe Courses, a wide range of leisure and activity weekends. Both are situated on the 320-acre Farncombe Estate, between Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon.

For more information visit www.farncombecourses.co.uk/about-us/.