BREAKING NEWS: Thame Restaurant Prize For TV Winners

THE secret’s out at last! A Thame restaurant is to become the testing ground for the couple that have won the BBC2 programme, ‘The Restaurant’ earlier this evening.
A Royal Marine Corps cook and a trainee teacher from Barnstaple in North Devon have beaten eight other couples to win first place and a once-in-a-lifetime to run their own restaurant with the guidance and financial backing of the world-class restaurateur, Raymond Blanc.

Jane and Jeremy Hooper convinced Raymond and his panel of ?inspectors? ? restaurateurs and industry experts including co-founder of Peach Pubs, Lee Cash ? that they have the passion, determination and skills needed to run a successful restaurant business, despite their lack of commercial experience.

To do it, the couple took part in a demanding series of challenges over an eight week period, putting their culinary, creative and business skills to the test. They were given their own real-life restaurant, ?Eight in the Country?(Actually The Yew Tree, in Frieth), where each week they carried out the tasks set for them by Raymond Blanc and where their performance was watched by his team of inspectors.

To help him make this week’s ultimate decision, Raymond asked the finalists to take their restaurants to his home town of Besancon in France – the place where he grew up and started his own career.
The two couples had less than 48 hours to reopen their own restaurant there for one night, and introduce the French to their British cuisine.

?We deliberately set out to put the couples through the kind of challenges they would face on a daily basis if they were running their own restaurant businesses,? said Raymond. ?We tested them on everything, from creating the right menu for their restaurant, to making their brand really come to life and being a financial success; from only using the best seasonal and local ingredients in their cooking, and of course serving food of a fantastic quality, and finally the most difficult things, motivating their staff and really delighting their guests.
?Although we were impressed with so many of the couples who took part, it was Jeremy and Jane?s conviction which came over the strongest,? he said. ?I really believe they want this in the depths of their hearts, and that they are committed to learning and making it a great success.
?I also felt they were passionate about their vision and what it meant to them to win ? this is really a life decision for them and I am sure they are going to give it their all.?

By winning the competition, Jane and Jeremy get the opportunity to set up and run their own restaurant in partnership with Raymond Blanc and supported in running the business by Raymond and Peach Pubs. They will manage the restaurant with Raymond?s help and guidance, and be trained by him in all aspects of food, cooking and service.

?We?re absolutely over the moon to have won ?The Restaurant?,? said Jane. ?We know we?ve been given the opportunity of a life-time. We?re honoured and privileged to be working with Raymond and with Peach. The last few weeks have been an amazing learning curve for us and we know it?s going to be tough, but running our own restaurant is what we?ve always dreamed of ? we just never imagined our dreams would come true so quickly or that we?d have such an amazing mentor.
?We worked very hard and took the competition very seriously, and to win is an amazing achievement for us. We know we?ve got a lot to learn and that many people think I?m too emotional, but I intend to use that as a strength to show how much it means to me.?

?Winning gives us the opportunity to start a new life together,? added Jeremy. ?It means I can leave the Marines and spend more time with Jane on something we are both absolutely passionate about. It is going to be very hard work, but we?ve got a great teacher and are ready for our next challenge. We intend to focus and be 100% driven on making our partnership with Raymond a success.?

Work is already underway on Jane and Jeremy?s new restaurant – formerly The Old Trout Inn, in Thame, now to be call ‘The Thatch’.
The restaurant will be officially open for business in November.

Photo: Jane and Jeremy Hooper (Courtesy of the BBC)
Right: The Old Trout as it was before the current refurbishment.