North-west pub chef creates YouTube recipe channel
Tom McNeeney, from the Oxford, in Rochdale, aims to post a series of weekly ‘how to cook’ videos under the Team McNeeney brand.
Dishes posted so far include meatball lasagne, pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich and the ‘Really Good Burger’ – a double burger stuffed with chillies and cream cheese, smoked bacon, secret sauce, onions and tomato.
The Oxford was bought by parents Alison and Phil McNeeney in 2013, who continue to run the pub with Tom and sisters Ria and Ella. It specialises in what Tom McNeeney calls American gluttony and offering twists on conventional pub grub.
Recent specials boards have included the likes of Brazilian seafood stew, stacked American burgers and sweet chilli Quorn tacos with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos and fries.
Social media
In creating the YouTube channel, McNeeney said he wanted to embrace social media but move away from the usual “posting the odd picture on Facebook”.
He explained: “We plan to post one video a week, until we run out of ideas. We asked about, and there didn’t seem to be a great amount of interest in seeing conventional pub recipes – but for some of the more obscure stuff, there was.
“Our dishes, such as the Really Good Burger, play into the current trend for American cuisine, and the whole ‘man verses food’ thing.”
McNeeney said the idea of promoting the food under the Team McNeeney name gives the family some currency the next time the Star Pubs & Bars leasehold is subject to a rent review.
“Star Pubs has been a great company to work with, but we’ve always tried to push the family name the rather than the pub name. When it comes to things like reviewing the rent, it gives us the ammunition to say that our brand holds some value.”
Future plans
McNeeney claimed to always be on the lookout for new ideas, and the family is currently debating whether to invest in a food truck to take the offer on the road.
“If we do actually decide to get into outside catering, that’s when social media and the idea of branding really come into play – as people are going to want to know who we are.
“The idea is to make Team McNeeney a recognisable name synonymous with interesting and usual food. The more weird and wonderful, the better.”
