Posts Tagged ‘Dining in Swansea’

The whole team at The Dragon wish Chef Sam Thomas, who’s served us well for the last 6 years, the best of luck and success with his new venture – the kitchen certainly won’t be the same without him! But there’s no fear as long suffering Chef Steve Williams is stepping up to spearhead the culinary operations with support from Chefs Kevin Wingrave and Hayley James.

Local lad Chef Steve is no stranger to life at The Dragon Hotel having been here for well over a decade masterminding thousands of Christmas Parties, Weddings and Dinner Dances. Not easily flustered, Steve takes everything in his stride and likes nothing better than to unwind with a few cans of cider over a fishing rod.

Kevin Wingrave could easily have been lost to the culinary world if he had stuck to his first career choice of carpentry. A few too many splinters made Kevlar decide to swap his wood chips for potato chips and Swansea Bay has now sampled his cooking at both Morgans Hotel and 698 prior to his arrival at The Dragon in 2005.

Chef Hayley James is by far the prettiest of The Dragon Hotel’s culinary team and has known Kevin since they attended Neath Port Talbot College together. Deserving a medal for working alongside him for so many years, Hayley is not only our Desserts and Pastry specialist but also manages to stay on top of the dreaded paperwork – a skill seldom found in chefs!

The motley crew that makes up the rest of the team includes:

James Hallett, who also worked with Kevin and Hayley at Morgans and 698, and has once been told he’s a young Heston, a fact that is often repeated…

Adam ‘Ducky’ Harris who waddles around the kitchen busy being Kev’s Golden Boy

Ben Kerward, the wittiest member of the team who knows exactly how to press Chef Steve’s buttons!

There are, of course, a few others who do not wish to be mentioned in this blog and shall therefore remain faceless: Liam, Mark, Bernard, Chris, Ashley, Roy and Liam – you know who you are!

Book your Wedding at The Dragon Hotel and enjoy a Welcome Drink Reception for FREE* ! (more…)

The tag line reads ‘The Best of The Best’ and staff and management at The Dragon Hotel are indeed delighted to be included within this elite group once again. (more…)

By Friday morning every semblance of style was out the window if you had looked closely at the lucky few that had been celebrating the night before, but nothing can detract from The Dragon Hotel’s win last Thursday night at The Wave & Swansea Sound Culture & Lifestyle Awards.   A big thank you is due to all those who supported the popular city centre hotel as they depended on the public’s on-line voting to claim victory in The Hotel Award with TWK Thomas and Manor Park.

In a spectacular black tie event at Swansea’s Waterfront Museum with entertainment from the likes of Britain’s Got Talent success story, local dancers A3, and last season’s X Factor runner up Olly Murs, the evening celebrated a mixture of iconic Swansea classics as well as the latest enterprises to hit the city.

Long standing favourite The Cross Keys claimed success in The Bar Award sponsored by Swansea BID and new face Odyssey was victorious in The After Dark Award with The Norton House Hotel.  Café TwoCann added to their list of awards with The Coffee Culture Award sponsored by McDonalds and MODA was the winner of The Boutique Fashion Award. 

Cath Garcia, of The Dragon Hotel says ‘Winning an award like this, where members of the public go out of their way to vote, is a real privilege.  It’s like a big thank you card that tells us our hard work does not go unnoticed.’  

 According to Sean Tighe of The Wave and Swansea Sound, the calibre of nominations this year was strong ‘It’s difficult to believe that such eminent establishments such as Morgans Hotel or  Oceana night club came in as runners up – such is the quality of life in and around Swansea these days.’  He says.  ‘The amount of votes cast was staggering as well.  The response from our listeners has been tremendous, a real testament to the city in which we live.’

Roy Griffiths Team Member for August

What can I tell you about Roy?

A man of few words, who prefers to let his actions speak for him, and indeed they do!  Roy is, above all else, a ‘Grafter’, going about his daily routine with commitment and efficiency.  Over the last few months he has not only gone the extra mile to ensure the smooth running of his department but has by far exceeded it.  Roy has only worked at the hotel for a small number of months, but has already made himself a part of the furniture.

Roy’s son Ashley also works for the hotel and is expecting a new baby with his partner in December 2010, so congratulations pending for Grandfather Roy!!  He is an avid Cricket supporter and though a man of few words, this is a subject that particularly animates him, and he has much to say on team performances.  Let’s hope that Team England pull it out of the bag!

Once again, huge thanks and congratulations to Roy for becoming the Team member of the month for August and for his continuing support and hard work!

Ceri has worked at The Dragon Hotel, Swansea in some capacity or another since 2004 and has been in her current position of F&B Supervisor for little over a year. Here’s your opportunity to get to know Ceri a little better:

1. What is your name?
Ceri
2. How old are you?
23
3. What are your hobbies?
Rollerblading, Dancing, Shopping.
4. What is your favorite food?
Cheese
5. What is your favorite drink?
Coke
6. Do you have any special talents?
No
7. What is your biggest secret?
It’s a secret.
8. What is the scariest thing you ever encountered?
Dixie (Restaurant Manager and the one asking the questions)
9. What is your least favorite type of music?
Metal
10. Who is your favorite band?
Basement Jaxx
11. Who is your favorite movie?
Dirty Dancing
12. How many kids do you want to have?
3
13. Do you want to get married
No
14. Do you get along with your parents
Yes
15. Do you like indoor or outdoor activities
Outdoor
16. Whats your favorite store
Atica
17. Have you ever been skinny dipping
Yes
18. Do you like video games
No
19. Whats your favorite kind of flower?
Daffodils
20. What is you middle name?
Louise
21. What is you favorite animal?
Dog
22. Are you at college?
Yes
23. Have you ever been out of the country?
Yes
24. Do you like fish?
Yes
25. Are you dating anybody?
Yes
26. Are you afraid of bugs?
No

27. Do you like the snow?
Yes
28. Do you like to go for long walks?
Yes
29. Coffee or tea?
Coffee
30. Do you believe in ghosts?
No
31. Do you have any siblings?
Yes, 3 sisters and 5 brothers
32. What is your favorite color?
Green
33. Do you like candles?
No
34. Name one song that once in your head no matter how hard you try you cant get out.
True Colures By Phil Collins
35. Favorite TV commercial?
Dairy Milk – Gorilla playing drums
36. How long does it take you to get ready before you go out?
½ Hour
37. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Greece
38. When was the last time you colored in a coloring in book?
About 2 weeks ago
39. What time do you wake up in the morning?
About 7am
40. Are you a funny person?
No
41. Are you hyperactive?
No
42. Would you rather be known as Hot, Cute or Awesome.
Awesome
43. Do you believe music is your life.
Yes
44. Have you ever been in serious trouble with the law?
Yes
45. Travel by bike or walk?
Walk
46. Are you mature for your age?
No
47. How do you feel about global warming?
We need to do more to slow it down.
48. Do you know anybody who is a “Hannah Montana” fan?
No
49. Isn’t Winnie the Pooh AWESOME?
Yes
50. Do you like working at the Dragon?
Yes, I love it.

Originally from Pantyscallen, nr. Merthyr (but we don’t hold that against him), Food & Beverage Supervisor Andrew Roberts has been working at The Dragon Hotel since July 2005.  He recently married his childhood sweetheart, the beautiful Rachel and they share their home with Indie the dog.  Here is 60 seconds in his company:

TDH: Tea or Coffee?

AR: Coffee

TDH: Rugby or Football?

AR: Rugby

TDH: Early Bird or Night Owl?

AR: Night Owl

TDH: Electric or Manual? (toothbrush that is)

AR: Manual (current colour: green)

TDH: Ski or Surf?

AR: Ski

TDH: Red or White?

AR: Red

TDH: Is the glass half full or half empty?

AR: Half Full

TDH: Cat or Dog?

AR: Dog

TDH: James Bond or Indiana Jones?

AR: Indiana Jones

TDH: Daddy or Chips?

AR: Chips!

Refresh and blow away the cobwebs with the 4 star Dragon Hotel (more…)