RESTAURANT SERVICE TRAINING
We believe service levels should mirror the quality of the food and the ambience, regardless of an establishment's formality. This is where Exquisite Cotswolds excels.
We offer a unique range of restaurant service training consultations tailored to ensure alignment across the entire customer experience, resulting in repeat customers and increasing staff confidence and morale.
Our expertise is helping businesses uphold the simple and elegant standards of British dining etiquette, a service that sets us apart. Understanding and respecting the rules is vital to ensure every guest, without exception, has a memorable dining experience.
Do you know what can be worse than being in an embarrassing situation as a client? Being in one that could have been avoided had the restaurant been educated on why these rules are so important to adhere to.
Below are just a few examples of potentially embarrassing situations for diners:
Have you ever been to a lovely party, dressed to impress, only to be served a canapé that was too big to fit into your mouth? And when you tried to take a bite, it collapsed down your outfit, leaving you feeling embarrassed?
This awkward situation often happens when finger food is served as a canapé and requires a plate, and preferably a seat, as balancing everything with a glass in one's hand while trying to make small talk with a new acquaintance can be pretty challenging.
Therefore, it is always better to keep canapés bite-sized, making them easy to consume without any awkward moments.
Imagine being seated at a fine dining restaurant and being presented with a work of art on your plate as a starter. The dish is beautifully crafted, but as you look down, you notice an array of flatware surrounding it, leaving you to choose which tool to use.
You make your selection, only to realise a few moments later that you've made a mistake. You're now struggling to navigate the morsel, trying to figure out which utensil would be best suited for the job, all the while hoping that nobody is watching.
This situation can be incredibly embarrassing and can take away from the enjoyment of the meal.
In recent times, there has been an increasing trend in pubs who are serving Sunday lunch in a bowl, which may appear visually attractive and modern.
However, despite its contemporary appeal, this style of serving is not the most practical option for guests. The bowl's shape makes it challenging to cut meat gracefully, as the cutlery needs to reach over the bowl's side and perform on 'tiptoes.'
Additionally, guests may encounter difficulties drinking or conversing with their dining companion without the cutlery sliding ungracefully into a pool of gravy when the guests attempt to place them in the 'resting position'.
The charm of afternoon tea, a quintessentially British experience, is still a much-coveted treat, especially for visitors coming from other countries.
The venue that offers this experience goes the extra mile to ensure that everything is perfect, from purchasing traditional cake stands to making delicate patisserie every morning.
However, some venues are causing unnecessary confusion among their guests by arranging each element of the afternoon tea offering in the wrong order on the cake stand. As a result, guests are left puzzled about the correct way to savour the delicious offerings, and they worry about appearing uneducated in front of others, detracting from the delightful experience.
Ultimately, British dining etiquette rules are in place to ensure a smooth and seamless meal experience that doesn't disrupt the flow of conversation and enjoyment between guests. When followed correctly, these rules should go unnoticed and allow guests to focus on spending quality time with their dining companions.
It's unfortunate that the term 'etiquette' carries negative associations in the UK. This opinion is likely derived from television shows such as 'Ladette to Lady,' which portrayed a strict and formal approach to social interactions. Similarly, series like Bridgerton, although entertaining, can exaggerate the traditional societal pressures to conform to specific standards, thus turning people off the essence and benefits of understanding and implementing etiquette rules.
Our principal is dedicated to educating individuals who believe that etiquette is an outdated concept, in a gentle and non-judgmental manner. By imparting confidence-building skills, she changes perceptions and enhances experiences of both patrons and staff.
Finally, it's crucial to emphasise that after acquiring a good understanding of British dining etiquette, staff members must practice and showcase their skills with courtesy and humility. It is essential to avoid displaying a haughty attitude towards others, as it would be deemed impolite and ill-mannered. Maintaining a respectful demeanour while serving guests is key to providing an exceptional dining experience.
Details of our restaurant service training options are detailed below. We invite you to a complimentary discovery call to discuss your requirements in more detail. Simply complete the form at the bottom of the page, and we will be in touch within one working day to discuss how we can help.
How can we help?
Mystery Shopper Services
As professional consultants, we know the importance of maintaining consistent service standards across multiple establishments. That's why we offer our Mystery Shopper Service for hotel and pub groups. We work with you to establish the ideal level of formality and assess each establishment to ensure it meets those standards.
You can rely on our objective and detailed reports to make informed decisions for your business that align with our Exquisite 5-Star Rating™.
Staff Training Programmes
Well-trained and confident staff are the key to delivering an outstanding dining experience. Our restaurant staff training services help restaurants of any size achieve higher levels of staff satisfaction and lower turnover rates.
Investing in your staff pays dividends, and that's where we come in – we will deliver customised training programmes designed to improve your staff's skills, elevate your restaurant's quality of service, and ultimately enhance customer loyalty.
Restaurant Service Assessments
Our restaurant services consultations provide owners with a detailed report on how to improve their establishment and offer personalised suggestions for areas of growth in line with the level of formality and our Exquisite 5-Star Rating™.
With our principal's extensive experience as a British etiquette consultant and our passion for restaurants, we will help you achieve your goals and take your business to new levels of success.