Phil Vickery to champion local sourcing at Publican Conference
TV chef Phil Vickery will be a headline speaker at The Publican Conference this year, focusing on his work on developing local sourcing with Kent brewer Shepherd Neame.
In a keynote Pub Food session at the conference on November 3, Phil will spotlight his commitment to promoting and developing the brewer's 'Local Food From Local People' scheme - one of a series of initiatives which won Sheperd Neame the Managed Pub Company of the Year title at this year's Publican Awards.
Following the scheme's launch in November 2004, Vickery is now developing a series of dishes using locally sourced produce for some of Shepherd Neame's Kent pubs, as well as hosting a master class training day for selected chefs.
Born in Folkestone, Kent and famed for championing British food, Phil Vickery is rated as one of the top chefs in the country. Since September 2004 he has been running his own pub, The King of Prussia, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire, offering fine British cuisine.
Phil said: "I'm delighted to be appearing at The Publican Conference and to have another opportunity to promote local sourcing - something I believe passionately in.
"Pubs are my favourite place to dine in and are increasingly offering superb quality food. They offer a relaxed, informal setting and are perfectly placed at the hubs of their communities to source ingredients locally.
"We've seen that customers appreciate knowing that the food they are eating is sourced locally - often it is the only way to achieve the highest quality and perfect flavour, and I'll be encouraging everyone to do the same."
