A national day to celebrate the frequently overlooked contribution of Waiters and Waitresses to the British dining experience will take place for the first time on June 23rd. The announcement was made at the 20th Annual Hotel General Managers’ Conference in London by Fred Sirieix, founder of the event and creator of “The Art of Service”.
The term “waiter” originated in Middle English in the 1300s. Originally hand-picked by royalty, waiting staff formed a crucial role in serving and defending kings and queens. Today, as British gastronomy takes a seat at the top table, British waiting staff carry an estimated 4 million tonnes of food, billions of plates and billions of drinks to dining tables every year.
8 billion meals served
Last year, the UK hospitality industry served more than 8 billion meals, or one in every six meals consumed in the UK. Restaurants and cafes serve around 20% of all food eaten outside the home in the UK. A quarter of a million outlets provide 2.4 million jobs, almost 10% of the workforce, making the hospitality industry the UK’s fifth largest employer.
Now, following the busiest month of the year for the restaurant trade, a team led by “The Art of Service” service guru Fred Sirieix, General Manager of Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows and Anne Pierce, Chief Executive of the Springboard Charity, is planning an annual celebration of the contribution that front of house staff make to the dining experience of millions of British and international guests every year.
Programme of events
National Waiters Day will feature a programme of events including a gruelling Waiters Race. Waiters and waitresses will be tasked with running with a fully-laden tray through an outdoor course in London. Other events are likely to include celebrities returning to their roots and working as waiters and waitresses in the restaurants they worked in before they found fame.
Widespread support
It is understood that best wishes for the initiative have been received from Her Majesty the Queen, whilst pledges of support have been received from The Prince’s Trust, The British Hospitality Association, The Institute of Customer Service and Visit Britain, as well as catering giants, including Michel Roux Jr, Chris Galvin, Alastair Storey and Danny Meyer. Michel Roux Jr said: “This is a great initiative! It’s about time front of house got the recognition it deserves.” Legendary New York restaurateur Danny Meyer said: “Congratulations and best of luck with this great initiative.” Alastair Storey, Chairman and CEO, WSH, said: “National Waiters Day is absolutely brilliant and long overdue. It has my total support.” Chris Galvin said “Simply brilliant, at long last a day to celebrate the other half.”
Credit for the contribution and skills of front of house staff
Announcing the date, Fred Sirieix said: “Britain has a centuries-old relationship with waiters. Every day, television devotes hours of coverage to the work of professional chefs and yet waiters and waitresses scarcely rate a mention. Even the better cooking programmes only feature glimpses of waiters and waitresses setting tables or taking orders. They never give credit to the huge contribution that front of house staff make to our restaurant dining experience. You could say the “waiting” is over.”
Anne Pierce, Chief Executive of the Springboard Charity said: “Waiters and waitresses are hugely skilled. They need to be knowledgeable about cooking, ingredients, wine, accompaniments and more – and are often involved in table-side cooking. Add to that the physical skills required – from elegantly opening bottles of wine to carrying precarious loads through human obstacle courses – and you have a trade executed by truly remarkable people.”
A website, www.nationalwaitersday.com , live today, has been set up as a focal point for all events throughout the UK. This will be updated regularly.
A programme of events has already been confirmed at Galvin at Windows, the Michelin-starred restaurant at which Fred Sirieix is General Manager.
Regular updates will also appear on Twitter, using the hashtags #NationalWaitersDay and #WaitersRace .
About The Springboard Charity
The Springboard Charity takes a lead in helping young, unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their prospects for economic well-being.
It provides opportunities for sustainable employment, or vibrant careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism, and equips people with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential. www.springboard.uk.net
About Galvin at Windows
Led by General Manager Fred Sirieix and with a glamorous interior evoking the golden age of the 1930s, Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows restaurant and bar has become one of the most talked about destinations since opening in May 2006. Situated on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane, it has become renowned for its peerless views over the capital, including iconic sites such as The City, Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace.
Together with Chef Patron Chris Galvin, Head Chef André Garrett has successfully created seasonally inspired menus based around modern French haute cuisine.