National Waiters Day in the UK was created by Fred Sirieix, the General Manager at Galvin at Windows, the Michelin-starred restaurant on the 28th floor of the London Hilton. You may also be more familiar in his recent appearances on television as the Maître d’ on First dates. Sirieix thought it was high time to celebrate all such serving staff–from maître d’s in fine restaurants to Starbucks baristas, from diner waitresses to cocktail bar mixologists.
Fred Sirieix’s goal was to change the perception of waiters, servers as unskilled workers and instead as hardworking people doing jobs that require many skills and can lead to rewarding careers. The first celebration was in 2013 which has now grown into a national day for all to be recognised and appreciated.
With this day not to go unrecognised, on a sunny spring day in May the staff at the Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa took the opportunity to celebrate National Waiters Day by hosting our first National Waiter’s Day race.
Local hospitality staff were invited to join us and celebrate national waiter’s day adding some competitive spirit to the event. Five members of our team lined up alongside staff members from Granary Barn Estates, Crown Catering and The Joshua Tree with the chance of winning a case of Moet & Chandon Champagne for the winner.
Overseen by guests and staff, the nine participants lined up with silver trays laden with full glasses ready for Executive Head Chef Lee Cooper to set them on their way. The rules and course were simple, starting from the hotel reception steps complete one lap of the driveaway, whilst trying not to spill any of the liquid in their glasses before crossing the finish line. The winner would be the one that had the most liquid left in their glasses at the end of the race. This year’s lucky winner was a last minute participant to the race, our very own Libby from the Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel.
Congratulations to all that took part.