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A revolution in the kitchen: Robert Pearce

14/2/2019

A REVOLUTION IN THE KITCHEN
ROBERT PEARCE

Meet Robert Pearce, the chef making magic in the kitchen of Garden Brasserie, our restaurant in Orsett. We asked him a few questions so that you can get to know him a little and get inspired before enjoying a delicious meal. If you are looking for restaurants in Orsett, then look no further! We have everything you wish for a perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner.

What are the TOP 5 flavors a guest can taste at Orsett Hall?

"This is a tough question as it is so hard to only choose 5 flavours. For me fresh ingredients are paramount and this comes across in our dishes, I also like to shop locally wherever possible. Certain flavours work well with meat and others with fish. I think Plant based dishes will grow in popularity this year, my team also enjoy coming up with new ideas for Vegans and Vegetarians."

Which chef's do you consider a role model and why?

"The Chef’s I work alongside everyday are great role models, we have a great range of ages, characters and personalities. There are always new idea’s being thrown around the kitchen which helps us be innovative and ahead of the game."

If you could cook for one last time only, what would you cook for the guests of Orsett Hall? 

"I would have to cook one of our Chef’s tasting menu’s. 7 courses of pure delight, starting from amuse bouche, then on to starters, fish course, then main course would range from beef fillet to lamb cannon. Our pre-dessert is a show stopper, a take on egg & soldiers, with vanilla panacotta and passionfruit gel remembering the egg and the French toasted brioche fingers mirroring the soldiers. Finishing with a rich chocolate indulgence."

What do you absolutely have to have in your kitchen?

"I really enjoy having a thermomix in the kitchen. I feel it's such a good machine in terms of an all-round machine. It blends, chops and cooks all in the same process, it can even make sorbets and knead bread for us. It's almost like having another chef that plugs in."

Why should people dine at The Garden Brasserie in Orsett Hall?

"We have such broad cuisine at the Garden Brasserie. You can enjoy traditional fish & chips whilst your dining guests tuck into a beef fillet rossini or a traditional cheese board instead of our signature carrot cake dish. The plant pot is made out of chocolate and the carrots look like they are growing out of the soil which is chocolate crumbs. Presentation is a huge part of what we do."

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Sample Menu

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Here is a quick way to plan the best team building activity in Essex

23/1/2019

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Here is a quick way to plan
the best team building activity in Essex

Team building events play a crucial role in the success of any business. Not only do they help to improve the productivity and motivation levels of your employees, but they also provide a way for everyone to form stronger bonds which can boost collaboration skills as well as creativity. Finding a team building venue is actually a relatively easy task, providing that you follow a few simple steps.

Read on for the three main things you will need to take into consideration when planning your team building event.

1. Choose a Venue With Both Indoor and Outdoor Space

A carefully thought out team building event will often require access to a fair amount of both indoor and outdoor space. The last thing you will want is for participants to be crammed in a tiny indoor meeting room for the whole day. Instead, it's best to have plenty of outdoor space so they can complete some team building exercises in nature. You will also need to have indoor space available, so that you have a back-up plan if the weather takes a turn, or if you want to host some more 'formal' meetings with the participants.

Orsett House is an excellent choice for those looking to host a team building event in Essex. This beautiful hotel sits on 12-acres of manicured grounds. It has 7 function rooms in total, 4 with their own private bar, and an additional 3 meeting rooms which can also be used as breakout rooms. The versatile function rooms at Orsett Hall can host up to 450 delegates, and they can be set-up to cater for all you need for your team building activity in Essex.

Check out our function rooms

2. Choose a Venue That Also Offers Accommodation

When planning a successful team building activity Essex, you will want to make sure that the venue has adequate accommodation so that the hosts as well as the participants are able to stay on-site.

Orsett Hall Has 56 bedrooms: you can choose from the great value superior rooms, executive rooms as well as incredibly spacious and individually-decorated suites. There are even Garden lodges that come with a private kitchenette, which provide additional privacy. All rooms come kitted with everything you would expect from a 4-star hotel, including complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer, and flat screen TV.

Check out our rooms

3. Choose a Venue With a Good Location

In order to plan a successful team building near London event, you will need to choose a venue that is well-connected to roads and motorways. If you select a venue that is in the middle of nowhere or hard to get to, then you're going to have to arrange transportation which will pile on extra costs to your event. You can save yourself the time and hassle by selecting a venue that is actually in Essex, which also has good links to London for those travelling from further afield. Orsett Hall Hotel is situated in Essex is in easy reach of the M25, and just a 40-minute train journey from London.

An excellent venue lays the foundations for a successful team building trip. If you use the above tips, take into consideration the venue's accommodation options, location and indoor and outdoor spaces, then you'll be sure to select the perfect venue in no time. If you are interested in booking Orsett Hall for your next team building Essex event then you can contact us by phone, email or on the contact from listed on our website, and our helpful staff will be happy to discuss your needs.

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JO & JAMES WEDDING story. THE INTERVIEW TO ONE OF OUR HAPPY COUPLES.

27/11/2018

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JO & JAMES WEDDING story.
the interview to one of our happy couples.

We at Orsett Hall Hotel strongly believe that we have all a bride and groom need for their special day. But who better than a real couple can explain why? Jo & James celebrated their wedding with us and we asked them to help us show why we are one of the best wedding venues in Essex.

What was the hardest part about the planning process and how did the Orsett Hall Hotel help you with that?

"The hardest part was knowing what you wanted but trying to put all together so it ran smoothly, and that is where the Orsett Hall stepped in and assisted and guided us through the best way forward."

What were your absolute “must haves” when it came to the wedding?

"Accessibility was our main priority together with having consistency with the same wedding planner throughout and the use of the chapel."

Would you recommend the Orsett Hall Hotel to other couples? Why?

"Yes. The wedding planners went above and beyond in their assistance, the food was delicious and exactly how we had envisioned for the whole day. The chef was very helpful and accommodating to changes. The room was decorated beautifully and the grounds were stunning. The extra choice of using the chapel on site, allows people the smooth transitioning from wedding to reception and from a disability everything is on hand and accessible."

What did you appreciate the most about the Orsett Hall Hotel?

"How smooth it ran and how stress free the day was. How friendly and accommodating everyone was, and as a disabled couple how everything accessible."

Any piece of advice for all the brides to be out there?

"View all rooms/chapel (honeymoon suites are amazing). Never be afraid to ask staff if you have any worries as they are always there to help and guide to a solution. I would highly recommend having a toastmaster (Dennis Surgeon) as this helped the smooth running and they made it fun and put you at ease."

Contact our Wedding Experts

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THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR SPECIAL DAY

29/9/2018

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Wedding in essex
THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR SPECIAL DAY <3

As one of the leading wedding venues in Essex, at Orsett Hall, we are frequently asked what goes into a good day. The answer is planning and that's why we have produced this checklist which will not only help you to remember all of the things you might want to include to make your big day go with a swing but when to get them done. The best wedding packages Essex has to offer mean getting things ready from about a year before the marriage ceremony. Read on to discover what you ought to be considering and when.

12 Months before

Book your dream venue as early as possible. Popular wedding venues in Essex, like Orsett Hall, get booked up in advance so avoid disappointment be securing your preferred date sooner rather than later.
Book registrars or a church or other place of worship for a religious service. Bear in mind that Orsett Hall has a chapel at your disposal among its other facilities.
Take out wedding insurance. What if something goes wrong like you or your partner suffer an injury or an illness in the run-up to the big day? Sadly, too few brides-to-be take out any form of insurance which protects you financially even if it can't protect you from disappointment.
Book a photographer and a videographer. Good ones, like great wedding venues, get booked up early so don't hang around with this important job!
Choose your wedding dress. Getting the right dress for you makes the whole day come to life and can be as much fun as the day itself. Why not take a look at Pasha Bridal Boutique which has supplied Orsett Hall successfully in the past?
Choose your bridesmaids and groomsmen. This is important so you can organise garments and tailoring as well as getting them to help you with other key tasks in the planning stage.

6 Months Before

Send out your invitations. You don't want people to start booking holidays that clash with your big day, after all.
Attend a wedding menu tasting. This way, you can start to think about the details and plan your budget accordingly. Contact the Orsett Planning Team for help in this area.
Book any additional extras or suppliers that you might need for one-off things that will make your wedding stand out. Orsett Hall has some recommended suppliers for you to read about.
Start planning your honeymoon. It is great to have something to focus on other than the actual wedding day itself.
Book ceremony musicians. Live music means securing your preferred ensemble in advance and less than six months out is leaving it a bit tight.

3 months before

Finalise your menu and drink choices so that the catering team are fully prepared.
Confirm any extras that you might want to be booked and check the details of every supplier so that no mix-ups occur at the last minute.
Conduct a fitting for your dress and the wedding rings so that any adjustments can be made if necessary.
Purchase gifts for parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen and each other.
Buy any accessories you might want to wear plus a pair of shoes to go with your dress.
Organise the outfits your flower girls and page boys will wear.
Confirm the number of guests from your respondents.
Go to the spa! Relaxing in the run-up to a wedding cannot be underestimated. Fortunately, Orsett Hall has a superb spa you can pamper yourself in.

1 month before

Do one final wedding dress fitting.
Create your table plan from your final list of guests to create the right ambience.

2 weeks before

Check for any last minute change in the number of guests.
Plan what you will pack for your honeymoon.

1 week before

Have a manicure, a massage, a waxing and all the preening you need to feel fully prepared.
Lastly, have a full wedding dress rehearsal in your complete outfit from your underwear to your veil.

Contact our wedding planning team

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5 TOP THINGS TO DO IN ESSEX

24/7/2018

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5 Top Things to do in Essex

If you regularly use Essex as a base, but carry out all your business and leisure activities in London, perhaps it’s time to break from routine. Add some local time to your itinerary, and have a look at the varied and appealing things to do in Essex. If you’re already thinking about a change, and considering what to do in Essex for a day, here are five suggestions to whet the appetite.

1. A Little Retail Therapy

Lakeside Shopping Centre is not just any shopping centre. With its extensive retail park and 26 acre ornamental lake, it is one of the largest retail and leisure complexes in Europe. Browse the hundreds of designer and high-street stores. Relax on the terrace of a café or restaurant overlooking the lake. Or treat the kids to a matinée performance on one of the Vue cinema’s nine screens.

2. Get into the Swing of Things

If your thing is golf, the impressive Orsett Golf Club is just a few minutes from the Orsett Hall Hotel. Arrange a little company team building, entertain your important clients, or take the ladies. While you enjoy a round or two on this fabulous 6,600 yard, par 72 course, the girls can get pampered in the hotel’s spa and leisure facilities.

3. Cruising from Tilbury

Cruising is one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK leisure industry, and you can cruise almost anywhere in the world from Tilbury. If you’ve never tried cruising, or have never set foot on a cruise liner, now you can. Try a one night taster, and see for yourself whether your sea legs are stuck firmly on terra-firma. Book an overnight stay at the Orsett Hall Hotel, and you are just a 15 minute drive from Tilbury Docks, and your first cruise ship experience.

4. A Nature Break with the Kids

With so much emphasis placed on reducing the damage we do to our countryside and oceans, there has never been a better time to get the kids involved in a little nature watch. Langdon Hills Country Park stretches over 400 acres. There are foot and cycle paths, bridleways for horse owners, and numerous picnic areas. Thurrock Thameside Nature Park comprises an impressive visitor centre, with great views across the estuary. Footpaths and cycle-ways criss-cross the 120 acres of parkland, which is soon to be extended to a massive 845 acres.

5. A Day for the Kids

Marsh Farm, at South Woodham Ferrers, is dedicated to children from 6 months to 65 years – and older. In this Petting Zoo, the kids can get up close to every type of domestic animal imaginable. With so many animals, inside and outside play areas, bouncy pillows and cafes, boredom will definitely not be a problem.

Next time you have to visit London on business or pleasure, think of what to do in Essex during your time off, and avoid the hassle and frustration of commuting into town.
Booking your stay at the Orsett Hall Hotel, you will be within easy reach of so many of the great things to do in Essex.

Check our accommodation in Essex

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1. A Little Retail Therapy

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ESSEX TRAVEL & inspiration

A revolution in the kitchen: Robert Pearce

A REVOLUTION IN THE KITCHEN
ROBERT PEARCE

Here is a quick way to plan the best team building activity in Essex

Here is a quick way to plan
the best team building activity in Essex

1. Choose a Venue With Both Indoor and Outdoor Space

2. Choose a Venue That Also Offers Accommodation

3. Choose a Venue With a Good Location

JO & JAMES WEDDING story. THE INTERVIEW TO ONE OF OUR HAPPY COUPLES.

JO & JAMES WEDDING story.
the interview to one of our happy couples.

THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR SPECIAL DAY

Wedding in essex
THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR SPECIAL DAY <3

12 Months before

6 Months Before

3 months before

1 month before

2 weeks before

1 week before

5 TOP THINGS TO DO IN ESSEX

5 Top Things to do in Essex

1. A Little Retail Therapy

2. Get into the Swing of Things

3. Cruising from Tilbury

4. A Nature Break with the Kids

5. A Day for the Kids

Categories

Archives

​1. A Little Retail Therapy

Archives

Archives

Categories

Author

Archives

ESSEX TRAVEL & inspiration

A revolution in the kitchen: Robert Pearce

A REVOLUTION IN THE KITCHENROBERT PEARCE

Here is a quick way to plan the best team building activity in Essex

Here is a quick way to plan​the best team building activity in Essex

1. Choose a Venue With Both Indoor and Outdoor Space

2. Choose a Venue That Also Offers Accommodation

3. Choose a Venue With a Good Location

JO & JAMES WEDDING story. THE INTERVIEW TO ONE OF OUR HAPPY COUPLES.

JO & JAMES WEDDING story.the interview to one of our happy couples.

THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR SPECIAL DAY

Wedding in essexTHE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR SPECIAL DAY <3

12 Months before

6 Months Before

3 months before

1 month before

2 weeks before

1 week before

5 TOP THINGS TO DO IN ESSEX

5 Top Things to do in Essex

​1. A Little Retail Therapy

​2. Get into the Swing of Things

​3. Cruising from Tilbury

​4. A Nature Break with the Kids

​5. A Day for the Kids

Categories

Archives

1. A Little Retail Therapy

A REVOLUTION IN THE KITCHEN
ROBERT PEARCE

Here is a quick way to plan
the best team building activity in Essex

JO & JAMES WEDDING story.
the interview to one of our happy couples.

Wedding in essex
THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR SPECIAL DAY <3

1. A Little Retail Therapy

2. Get into the Swing of Things

3. Cruising from Tilbury

4. A Nature Break with the Kids

5. A Day for the Kids