British Roast Dinner Week is calling for the UK’s pubs and restaurants to ‘boast their roast’ by taking part in a celebration of Britain’s favourite meal. Sponsored by KNORR® Gravy and supported by COLMAN’S®, British Roast Dinner Week, which runs from 29 September to 5 October, encourages pubs and restaurants to put roasts on the menu every day, rather than just Sundays.
In the build up to the weeklong celebration, the search is underway for Britain’s best roast dinner. The Best British Roast Dinner competition is open to all UK operators serving a roast on their menu and is the perfect opportunity to shout about this traditional favourite.
Increased sales of roasts
Pubs and restaurants that took part in last year’s celebration of roast dinners reported a range of business benefits. For example, one operator increased sales of roasts by 44% during British Roast Dinner Week.
Elsewhere, last year’s winner, Edinburgh-based Scottish steakhouse Kyloe, experienced a three-fold increase in roast dinner volumes after claiming the title.
It was chosen by judges for its fine quality, locally sourced meat – in particular its joint of Borders roast rib of beef, which is carved at the table – along with the abundance of crispy duck fat roast potatoes, perfectly cooked root vegetables and stand out gravy.
The Kyloe has no intention of relinquishing its trophy yet, and has thrown down the gauntlet to its competitors, with Murray Ward, General Manager of The Rutland Hotel, home of Kyloe Restaurant and Grill, saying: “Winning the Best British Roast Dinner competition helped to turn Kyloe into a destination venue for a Sunday lunch.
“We’ll definitely be entering the competition again this year and we just hope others entering the competition don’t try and copy our approach; however, we all know imitation is the best form of flattery!”
Chris Brown, Channel Trade Marketing Manager at Unilever Food Solutions, said: “There’s a strong business case for offering roast dinners. Previous entrants in Britain’s Best Roast Dinner Week competition have told us they experienced significant increases in revenues and profits over the course of the week, purely by offering roasts on additional days – so why serve them only on Sundays?”
Prizes
As well being recognised for serving Britain’s best roast, the winner will receive up to £10,000 worth of PR coverage for their pub or restaurant on their win, a day with a pub consultant, a supply of KNORR Gravy and Colman’s English Mustard. Four runners up will receive a supply of KNORR Gravy and Colman’s English Mustard.
Enter the competition
The competition closes on 22 August, with regional finalists announced at the end of British Roast Dinner Week, which takes place from 29 September to 5 October. The top five finalists will be shortlisted and visited by mystery diners to determine the Best British Roast Dinner.
To enter the competition operators must offer a roast dinner on their menus and answer four simple questions about what makes their roast special.
Visit www.britishroastdinnerweek.co.uk for entry criteria, terms and conditions and to enter the competition online.
For more information on British Roast Dinner Week, visit: www.britishroastdinnerweek.co.uk.
Condensed terms and conditions
Open to bona fide UK catering establishments and their employees aged 18+. To enter please complete and submit the entry form on www.britishroastdinnerweek.co.uk, or email your responses to melanie@williammurray.co.uk. Closing date: 22 August 2014.
See www.britishroastdinnerweek.co.uk for full terms.