Arriva steams ahead with Award-winning Crown Restaurants

Mark Wilson and James Sommerin ready for service onboard the Arriva Premier North-South Wales train

The master chef and team behind Wales’ only Michelin-starred restaurant joined staff on board Arriva Trains Wales’ Premier rail service* last night (03 November) to give first passengers a unique and unforgettable fine dining experience.

James Sommerin, Executive Head Chef at the Michelin star Crown at Whitebrook near Monmouth and the three AA rosette Crown at the Celtic Manor in Newport, joined Arriva Trains Wales chefs for one evening only, to serve up a culinary feast on board the Premier North-South Wales service.

Launched in December 2008, the week-day return service between Anglesey and Cardiff offers Wales’ only fine dining rail service and ranks highly among a handful of operators offering the same service in the UK today. Arriva Trains Wales recently gained recognition for its premier class dining service when it was ranked top in a recent review of UK rail dining services.

The special evening service organised between Cardiff and Chester cements the recently established partnership between the Crown restaurants and Arriva Trains Wales, which aims to develop the fine dining experience on board the premier service.

Mike Bagshaw, Arriva Trains Wales’ Commercial Director commented: “We’re delighted to have James and the staff from the Crown restaurants on board sharing their expertise and helping us to raise the standard of our First Class service even further.

“We expect next year to be a big year for Wales as a tourist destination, especially as preparations are being made to host the Ryder Cup, and we hope this partnership can grow and ensure that we retain a high level of service that meets and exceeds the expectations of our customers.”

Through this partnership, James travelled on board the premier service this summer and has more recently had a taste of what it is like to work with the chefs in the small galley of the restaurant car.

The talented 31-year old father-of-two chef who spends his time between both Crown restaurants, said: “The Crown restaurants and Arriva’s premier class service appeal to similar markets. With less than a year until the Ryder Cup comes to the Celtic Manor, there’s been an even bigger buzz around the resort as we prepare to welcome more tourists than ever in 2010. This service is very much what we need to help build on Wales’ reputation as a place that offers high quality food and a fine dining experience.”

A recent finalist on the BBC2’s TV programme, ‘Great British Menu’, James used his eight years experience working with the Crown restaurants to prepare a five-course fine dining menu for 46 first class passengers.

James, who thrived under pressure on board the service, continued: “I’ve worked in several places in my career but I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of cooking on board the train, even if the space limitations and the motion of the train took some getting used to. The chefs and hostesses do a superb job and I’m looking forward to working with the team again.”

One of the Arriva chefs working on board the service, Mark Wilson, 46, from St. Mellons in Cardiff, took part in a special cooking master class with James Sommerin at the multi-award winning Crown at Whitebrook last month (October).

Mark and fellow Arriva chef, Aaron Lister, 27, from Risca, are hoping to combine over 35 years of experience with James’ tried and tested culinary techniques to build on the service’s reputation: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of this service,” said Mark, “It was a real challenge but so exciting.”

“We normally change our menus on a six-day cycle so that passengers never have the same dish if they travel with us on one particular day each week. We’re hoping to work with James to create menus which can be varied by season for example or themed around special events.”

Fine dining onboard the Wales North-South service.

The special service was hosted by The Crown at Whitebrook General Manager, David Hennigan, supported by a team from The Crown restaurants and two Arriva customer service hostesses.

One of the Arriva customer service hostesses, 23-year-old Emma Parry, from Holyhead, in Anglesey, working on board the service, was delighted to be involved in the service: “I’ve worked at more than one top hotel in my time working in the hospitality industry, but this is the best experience yet. Working alongside a celebrity chef like James is a real honour and we’ve learnt a lot from the Crown’s hosts too.”

Other passengers were delighted with the service, including John Hook from Abergavenny, a regular passenger on board the train, who was invited to take part in the special excursion. He said: “I travel on board the service frequently and really rate both the service from hostesses and the chef’s culinary talent. This has been a great pleasure, and I’ve really enjoyed the whole fine dining experience.”

The Arriva Trains Wales premier class service runs week days between Anglesey and Cardiff, with a full breakfast served each morning and an evening meal served on the return journey from the Welsh capital.

Notes to Editors:

1. For more information on Arriva Trains Wales visit www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk
2. For more details on the Crown restaurants please visit: www.crownatwhitebrook.co.uk;  or www.crown.celtic-manor.com
3. The Arriva Trains Wales North South Express service boasts one of the few restaurant cars still operating in the UK today and provides a unique on train dining experience that has received excellent reviews.
4. The Crown at Whitebrook, near Monmouth and The Crown at Celtic Manor, are working in collaboration with Arriva Trains Wales to help the train operator to further develop the fine dining experience offered by its restaurant car on their premier North to South Wales service.
5. The Crown at Whitebrook was ranked 36 in the Good Food Guide’s 2010 ‘Top 50 restaurants in the UK’ with a 7/10 cooking score.
6. The Crown at Whitebrook is the only restaurant in Wales to hold a Michelin star which is achieved for the first time in 2007 and retained in 2008 and 2009.
7. The Crown at Celtic Manor Resort, venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, has three AA rosettes.
8. James Sommerin, Executive Head Chef at the Crown at Whitebrook and The Crown at Celtic Manor, and his team, is helping Arriva Trains Wales coach and cultivate Arriva Trains Wales chefs to enhance their own fine dining skills and expertise.

For further information on Arriva Trains Wales, please contact Catrin Millar or Helen Newton on 02920 764 100 or email catrin@equinox-pr.co.ukor helen@equinox-pr.co.uk

The Crown at Whitebrook Awards / Reviews
Over the last couple of years, The Crown at Whitebrook, near Monmouth, has scooped an impressive number of awards and accolades. These include the following:

1. 1 Michelin Star 2007
2. 1 Michelin Star 2008
3. 1 Michelin Star 2009
4. Top 50 The Good Food Guide 2010 (36) – 7/10
5. Top 40 The Good Food Guide 2009 – 6/10
6. AA Centenary Awards 2008 AA Wine Award, Wales
7. Top 40 in Eat Out Magazine’s Top 100 Best of the Best UK Restaurants
8. AA 5 Star Restaurant with Rooms 2007/2008
9. AA Premier Collection “Restaurant with Rooms” 2007/2008
10. Visit Wales 5 Stars as Restaurant with Rooms 2007/2008
11. Top Restaurant in Wales 2007 – The Observer
12. Top 10 fine dining rooms in Britain 2007 – The Times
13. Top 7 Restaurant with rooms in UK 2007 – The Sunday Times
14. Les Routiers Restaurant of the Year for UK 2007
15. Condé Nast Johansens top 3 wine lists in Great Britain 2007
16. AA Commended Wine List 2008

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