Star chef backs out of new venture after row
THE latest in a string of ill-fated ventures by a celebrated Cornwall-based chef has failed before it even launched.
Kevin Viner was due to launch Viner at the Rose during a VIP dinner tomorrow evening at the Rose in Vale Country Manor hotel in Mithian, near St Agnes.
But he walked out a week ago following a heated exchange with the owner, James Evans, who took over the hotel in 2006.
Mr Viner had been hoping to use the new venture as a way of rebuilding his reputation following a long-running feud with his former landlord, Eric Randle, at Viners Restaurant and Bar at Summercourt.
Buy one get one free on main courses and specials excludes fillet steaks. Equal prise meal or cheapest free
Terms:
Mon-sat 12-2pm
Sun-Thur 6-9pm.
Contact: 01209 700617
Valid until: Friday, May 24 2013
Mr Randle has since taken possession of the site and launched Stiltskins Restaurant.
Mr Viner was previously involved in a plan to turn the paddle steamer moored off Lemon Quay in Truro into a restuarant which failed to materialise.
The owners are still looking for a tenant.
Mr Viner, Cornwall's first Michelin-starred chef and who was once named best chef in the UK, told the West Briton he walked out because of "professional differences" and could no longer work at the hotel.
Mr Evans said he was "furious and bitterly disappointed" at Mr Viner's decision to leave without giving any notice. The restaurant would now be rebranded as Rose in the Valley, dropping any connection to Mr Viner.
"Mr Viner came in with a list of demands. I wanted a master chef not someone to tell me how to run my hotel and restaurant.
"We have the same team of chefs working for us and we will be open for our VIP night tomorrow and Saturday which is fully booked. "The young chefs' team is headed by Anthony Theobald, from a multi-rosetted background including Celtic Manor, St Moritz and Rick Stein's."
2 Comments
by saubrewery
Friday, February 01 2013, 2:52PM
“I must agree, Kevin Viner a certainly left trails of destruction, in fact I will question anyone on here that can name a restaurant that hasn't had a bitter departure from Mr Viner, penny pots, green lawns, the St Austell brewery episode, Sevens, Viners, the paddle boat in which he (Screwed the owners over) and now this,
It is clear Kevin does get the sob story every time, we all know he has his little click of celebrity chef friends a few suppliers and clearly a bias reporter on his side, but let's face the facts, we all know the true story behind Viners, the landlord was made out to look the bad man, I'm sure he didn't get to the position of owning a £3 million holiday park by behaving in such a way!
With Kevin's past and a newspaper article beforehand revealing he did liquidate his company owing £200000, I can't believe a court would rule in favour of this man when the argument was over unpaid rent, seriously the justice system is a mess
It's funny how his past chefs don't follow him, perhaps because they know the truth?
I do hope the this reporter could find use in reporting a story collectively with all the past landlords of Mr Viner and get the real truth,
If the man's so great why don't his celebrity supporters buy him a restaurant? Perhaps because the local ones only run kitchens not own them! Perhaps if they knew the difficulties starting a business and running one they'd see both sides of a picture not just there celebrity chef friend,
The true story's a good story, I hope this reporter can swallow his/her pride admit defeat and give a little back to the owners of the restaurants mentioned earlier, maybe, just maybe, Kevin isn't a perfect example maybe it's time he got the bad press that in my opinion he deserves, the Daily Mail reported a true storey in bad light of Kevin why can't our local honest Cornish paper do the same”
by IceMan3
Thursday, January 31 2013, 4:01PM
“Will the real Kevin Viner please stand up.
Every article about Kevin Viner always refers to this celebrity chef who brought Cornwall its first Michelin star, however is the press living in a time warp?
This was many many moons ago. Since then Cornwall has been home to many up and coming chefs but they never seem to be granted the publicity that Mr Viner receives.
Mr Viner as a chef maybe very good, but as a business man, he is a total failure. Again his name appears in print, failure after failure and its always someone else's fault. Landlord, leases on a boat, licence to operate, limited companies and now the latest professional differences; the list goes on.
So, will the real Mr Viner please stand up and now accept that although your food may be of good quality, your trail of disaster and leaving innocent people and suppliers in many thousands of pounds worth of debt in every venture you place yourself in, outweighs the meal that you serve of an evening.
Maybe it's time to step aside and allow this county and the press to celebrate the new and upcoming chefs who live and work within the beautiful county.
So, will the real Kevin Viner now stand up and bow out gracefully.”