Catering family takes on new venture (From The Advertiser Series)
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Wade family move into pub industry
6:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in Business
By Steven Hugill
Tom and Vanessa Wade, new landlords of the Vane Arms, with Nicola Neilson, centre, a partner at Latimer Hinks
A CHEF who once rubbed shoulders with Gordon Ramsey is helping a family of caterers in the pub industry.
Pastry chef Vanessa Wade has joined husband Tom at the Vane Arms, in Thorpe Thewles, near Stockton, after they completed a £250,000 deal.
The pair follow Tom's father, Ray, who has been running the pub's kitchen since last October, and previously looked after Wade’s Coffee House, in Darlington, and co-owned The George Hotel, in Piercebridge.
Tom, 28, whose wife Vanessa worked for Mr Ramsey in New York and been a technical chef for a chocolate company, said they were helped by law firm Latimer Hinks Solicitors in the move.
He said: “We are delighted to become owners of the former Punch Taverns-owned pub and are now looking forward to making it a real community hub with a reputation for great quality food.
“We are already in the process of employing a full-time chef and have had a brilliant welcome to the village.”
Nicola Neilson, a partner at Latimer Hinks Solicitors, said: “The pub has been going from strength to strength since the Wades took over and they will now be able to put their own stamp on it.”
