As a nation, we love nothing more than a bright beer garden, with our favourite tipple, and our favourite people. However, as we all know, the British summer is temperamental therefore, it is vital that establishments make the most out of the good weather, however limited it may be, while you have the chance.

Effectively planning your outdoor space is key to this and below, Stephensons catering equipment offer some top tips to maximise on the sunshine while it’s with us.

 - Be imaginative – use bright furniture and clever lighting to create a serene and inviting environment for guests

- Prepare for the rain – it’s likely it will hit us at some point so create a welcoming covered space for your guests

- Ensure you are meeting all legalities and regulations with any adaptations you make to your outdoor space

- Be flexible – use versatile furniture items which can be easily moved to suit the time of year and weather.

- Offer warmth for those colder evenings when guests prefer to remain outside.

- Provide enough lighting, especially if you have dining provision – diners do not want to eat in the dark!

Stephensons’ long-serving Cheshire delivery driver, Geoff Shaw, is set to retire next month.

Geoff, who has delivered outstanding service to Stephensons’ Cheshire-based customers for the last 14 years, will retire to play his beloved Crown Green Bowls and spend more time with his Grandchildren.

Geoff will be sorely missed by all the staff here at Stephensons Catering Equipment Suppliers and warm wishes for the future will no doubt also come Geoff’s way from his customers in Cheshire – which include Piccolino restaurants in Bramhall and Knutsford, as well as Simon Carlton’s pubs, The Crown, The Dog Inn and The Swan.

All the best in future Geoff – be sure to pop by and say hello!

We would like to dedicate this blog post to two members of the Stephensons catering equipment team, Gill Field and Dave Lockley, who are to be married this Saturday (11/05/13) at a service at Stockport Town Hall.

Warehouse & Transport Manager, Gill and delivery driver for the Manchester City Centre region, Dave, met at Stephensons in June 2010. Their passion for football (Gill, an avid Manchester City supporter and Dave, a Manchester United fan) sparked hours of friendly banter, and the pair have been inseparable ever since.

The Stephensons team wishes you lots of joy and happiness on this special day. May it be the start of a wonderful and exciting life together.

Congratulations!

It’s always great to hear when brands we stock are given an award, so this week we were pleased to learn that Staffordshire tableware manufacturer Steelite International has been presented with one of the most prestigious business awards in the world.

Established in 1983, in the heart of the potteries, Steelite International has become a leading manufacturer, making and supplying tableware ranges for the international hospitality industry. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade Category is the result of the group’s success in selling overseas, whilst demonstrating years of export success.

Here at Stephensons catering equipment, we pride ourselves in offering a wide range of Steelite crockery to suit all your catering needs, you can take a look at the collection here or alternatively on pages 133 – 142 of our 2013 catalogue.

Finally the Stephensons team would like to congratulate Steelite on its fantastic achievement!

It is likely that you saw James Bond’s most recent outing in ‘Skyfall’. However, even the most eagle-eyed fan may have missed one of our glassware products making a fleeting appearance during a scene with a particularly spiky drinking game!

The glassware in question is the Toughened Duralex Picardie Glass Tumbler, used by Bond, James Bond, as he tries to enjoy a drink (presumably a Martini), with a rather menacing looking scorpion on his hand.

Pre movie fame, the Duralex Picardie tumblers were known as the “original French tumblers”. Functional, stylish and extremely comfortable in the hand, the Picardie tumblers are available in four sizes from Stephensons.

Named after the Picardie province in northern France, these glasses have a real retro vibe and certain nostalgia, as one harks back to days of using them at school dinners!

Who would have thought it? A product stocked by Stephensons Catering Equipment Supplier, featuring in James Bond?

Whatever next? Only the Doctor No’s…

Images here – http://ajb007.co.uk/topic/41230/duralex-picardie-glass/page/2/