Hotel du Vin Cheltenham bucks the trend of dining offers

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In what has been widely acknowledged as the hardest trading conditions for 30 years, success stories have been the silver lining.

Hotel du Vin recognised the threat of last year early and introduced staggering dining offers from as early as January 2009.

Two people could eat two courses and have a bottle of wine for only £29. The offer was a runaway success and continued strongly all year.

General manager Tom Ross explained: “The bistro was not prepared for the interest, thinking January and February would be quiet we had encouraged the staff to take their holiday!”

The offer meant that, despite trading conditions, the bistro actually made more in food and beverage revenue in 2009 than it did in 2008.

A cost control plan and hard work from all of the staff meant that profitability percentages remained the same.

Mr Ross added: “The most important thing to us in 2009 was not to have to make any staff redundant and to retain the quality associated with the bistro despite more affordable options. The success of the offer meant that we had to hire more staff in the end.”

Based on the success of the offer in 2009 the hotel has again introduced a dining offer in 2010.