EVENT MANAGEMENT CATERING

John has been engaged by this contract caterer for the last couple of years, and his remit is to visit all of the twelve sites currently serviced by EMC - these are mainly throughout Yorkshire and Lancashire.  John thoroughly enjoys working with Robert Smyth, their Group Operations Director, who is a truly inspired character.

HOLLAND'S PIES, ACCRINGTON, LANCASHIRE

John & Ali were engaged by the legendary Holland's Pies to create a new range of pies to take out to different sectors.  Additionally they created a range of Halal friendly and vegetarian pies which should be rolled out in the coming months.  This was a truly brilliant project working with Holland's superb workforce, noticeably Maria Yuste.

WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE, LEEDS

John was engaged to work alongside the existing team at the Playhouse to create a refurbished front of house, which was an all day facility which reflected this busy theatre which is centrally located in Leeds.  John also did quite a bit of chef mentoring with the existing team of staff, and re-energised the whole offering.  Also recipe standards and costings and food photography to ensure total consistency to the theatre goers.

RECOMMENDATION OF WORK FROM GORDON CARTWRIGHT, CHIEF HOTEL & RESTAURANT INSPECTOR, AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

"I've worked with many of the greats in the industry, but when it comes to pure energy, creativity, experience, skill and knowledge, John has few peers.  Bring John in on any project and you can be assured of success.  A totally memorable guy, great sense of humour, top professional."

CONSULTANT EXECUTIVE CHEF TO CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM

CONSULTANT CHEF TO SANTA PONSA COUNTRY CLUB, MALLORCA, SPAIN
John and Ali Benson-Smith are driven individuals who enjoy getting to the heart of the business matters with an unique style.  Their clear thinking and solid determination has made a big impact and enabled our business to move forward with clarity.  They are hands-on team players who focus and balance numbers, marketing, sales, service, standards and of course great food!" 
Andy Lamyman, Director General of Santa Ponca Country Club, Mallorca.

CONSULTANT CHEF TO THE JERSEY BOATHOUSE, JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS
"I'm writing to you now to express my most sincere gratitude and thanks for your very considerable efforts and success in the completion of the construction and establishment of the Boathouse" 
James Lane, owner of the Jersey Boathouse.

CONSULTANT CHEF TO EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH
We are presently engaged by Edinburgh Festival Theatre to work on a project which involves a new cafe concept.

CONSULTANT CHEF TO BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM
"Birmingham Hippodrome's catering and hospitality service comprises theatre catering to over 1/2 million customers each year, an acclaimed restaurant, newly launched brasserie and hospitality from banquets to meetings.  John Benson-Smith provided a thorough, robust and unashamedly practical approach to the development of the hospitality in all its' aspects. If you want people with clipboards that write reports then he is not for you.  If you want someone who commands respect in the kitchen, engages with your staff and leads them firmly, but always with good humour, to a brighter place then you could do no better.  He will tell you what you may not want to know, but you need to - then he'll show you how to fix it" 
Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive, Birmingham Hippodrome.

CONSULTANT CHEF AND FLAVOUR RANGE DESIGNER TO WALKERS SENSATIONS CRISPS

NEFF CHEF 2000/2001
"With the help of Celebrity Chefs UK, Neff is delighted to be associated with John Benson-Smith.  John has shown a real willingness to get involved with our brand, to understand our objectives and work with us to achieve our goals.  He seeks new challenges and approaches each project with a positive attitude.  His customer demonstrations have been particularly beneficial in building a strong relationship between Neff and its' customers" 
Alice Portnoy, Marketing Manager, Neff UK Limited.

NORTHERN CHEF OF THE YEAR 1999
"There is no better example of the 'chef cult' of the Nineties than at the Sherlock Holmes Restaurant , where, under the leadership of John Benson-Smith, enfant terrible of the Mancunian foodie scene, and the north's answer to Marco Pierre-White, his food has show considerable talent and robust panache reminiscent of Dell 'Ugo, London's current most fashionable eatery" quote from Lancashire Life Magazine.

CONSULTANT CHEF FOR NESTLE CHOCOLATE CUISINE
John designed a number of chocolate inspired recipes using these fabulous new high cocoa content chocolate products from Nestle.  Please check out our recipe index to see more.

CHEF PATRON AT HAZLEWOOD CASTLE, NORTH YORKSHIRE
John & Ali arrived in North Yorkshire in the winter of 1997 to set about converting this disused former monastery into a twenty one bedroom luxury hotel with extensive conference and events facilities.  It was rather a large job, given that the Castle did not have mains water, gas or electricity, neither was there a proper access road to it even.  The entire Castle was refurbished by specialist tradesmen in order to retain as much of the natural fabric of the building as possible.  English Heritage showed a great interest in this Grade I and II listed property which originally featured in the Domesday Book (1086).  The hotel was also pleased to boast a stand-alone dedicated cookery school, which at the time was the first such school in the North of England.  This proved to be hugely successful and popular, leading John & Ali to run similar classes when they opened the Boat House in Jersey.

APM DESIGN LIMITED
"APM Design have been involved in the design and operation of a broad range of catering facilities with John & Ali Benson-Smith for over ten years, and we would have no hesitation in recommending their consultative services.

They have developed a reputation for consistently delivering exceptionally high standards with remarkable attention to detail, coupled with an innovative, free-thinking approach, ensuring that complex schemes are executed seamlessly" Andrew MacCluskey, Director, APM Design Ltd.


NHS LEADING CHEF LED BY LOYD GROSSMAN
"In 2001 the Department of Health asked Loyd Grossman to lead a new project called the 'Better Hospital Food Programme' to improve the quality and service standards of hospital food in England.  Patients had told the Government that over the previous decade the standards had fallen and something needed to be done about it.  Mr Grossman recruited a team of seven top 'leading chefs' to help him develop the purchasing specifications and recipes that would put the flavour back into the NHS meals.  He also set about a new idea to make sure patients got time to eat their meals without being rushed in a programme called 'Protected Mealtimes'.  The Better Hospital Food Programme improved the satisfaction levels of patients by over 50%.  Mr John Benson-Smith was one of the leading chefs and played an important part in working alongside NHS chefs to show them how to improve techniques, devising menus and recipes to align with what patients said they liked and acting as an ambassador for the programme in helping spread the word around the NHS on behalf of Mr Grossman and the Better Hospital Food Programme" Paul Cryer, Department of Health.

BURLINGTONS DINING ROOMS AT SLYNE, RIBCHESTER AND BROUGHTON
"Benson you are mad, but that's why we love you ..... brilliant, brilliant, brilliant" Chris Hoole, Managing Director, Cafe Inns.