1983 December. Sold the house, sold the car, gave up the day job & backed by the most amazing parents...
....would you put money into this??!! ...The Dining Room was on its way! Richard (...a man not phased by the lack of a kitchen when interviewed) puts a promising career on the line and joins as Head Chef.
1984 June. The doors opened for the first time & we've never looked back.....
1986 OPTIONS magazine did a six page lifestyle spread including loads of full colour photos of the restaurant. Customers STILL remark "Didn't I see you in ....?"
1986 WOMANS REALM two page feature. We must have arrived!
1987 Budget Good Food Guide. 1st mention in a national food guide!!

1987 Even more significant.... first couple book their wedding with us......Mad Fools!
1988 EGON RONAY!! Ultimate accolade! Favourite quote? "Native fare in decent portions at affordable prices"
1988 June. Mentioned in the Evening Standard as the place to go if you were thinking of proposing.......
1989 Oct. A new & trendy sister restaurant was opened. MATT BLACK'S!
Too trendy for sleepy Thames Ditton unfortunately! Closed after 2yrs.

1989 Over run with TV film crew who transformed the front into "Never The Twain". Passers by were heard to mutter - "What a shame, we thought that restaurant was really lovely...."!
1991 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING did six pages of beautiful full color photos on us.

1994 INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY ... HUGE photo of the three of us.

1994 After only 3 seasons The Dining Room racing team are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!.....
.......Moped Mayhem has never seen the like!!

Richard is over the moon!








1994? Merry Christmas!
1995 The ACKERMAN GUIDE and a rosette in the AA BEST RESTAURANTS IN BRITAIN.
1996 SUNDAY OBSERVER. Another huge photo of the three of us! Followed by an interview on breakfast television!
NEW SUMMER PATIO OPEN!
Instant success!
1998 is turning out to be our most successful year ever. Onward & upward!!

1999 Richard retires from the moped racing team and moves on to a rather more frightening pastime......
                              ....... for us at least!
2000 The patio turns purple - difficult to show in black & white - you'll have to eat there to be sure.
WWW In 2001 our web site attracted over 100 hits a week. Showing the current menu the site's design (all masterminded in house)...... .......has received much acclaim.
WIZARD Rave reviews also for our Wizard children's menu. Junior master chefs design their own main course & ice cream concoctions. Jamie Oliver eat your heart out!








Merlin's men in the test kitchen. The jackets are fuscia pink with fur trim. Not quite sure why.........

2001 A shop premises is aquired in Weybridge and after much frantic activity ( & far too much money spent on beautiful fittings!) our new venture is launched.








Pottery Painting. This is brilliant! Baby foot prints by the stork load & the best childrens parties in town!!
Meanwhile......
back @ the restaurant
2002 Our fabulous manager Sarah has decided to jump ship! 5yrs of unflinching dedication & inimitable style has seen our customer numbers breaking all records. A hard act to follow! Niki, Paul & Orr step into the breach & we don't miss a beat...
2003
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!...        The team do it again..... Number 63 in full Dining Room purple livery crosses the line ahead of a trailing pack of 80 - Five 6 hour races over the season, endurance racing at its finest...!                      The cup was ours...              ...not to mention the tee-shirt! 2003 THE GUARDIAN mentions us in its weekly review "English tradition has never felt better".... TATLER includes us in their "Treasure Trove" of favourite things.

2005 The garden is blooming!... ....the decked areas & beautiful ironwork Indian pergola (the birdcage!) look gorgeous. Summer wedding bookings are thriving. Pimms anyone?? 2006 This is exciting..... THE TIMES votes us one of the top 10 places to eat British fare in the South East. We're ranked alongside the likes of Heston Blumenthal's The Hinds Head in Bray.....
praise indeed.

2007 Stop the presses!! This is earth shattering! After 23 years as our head chef Richard is leaving to set up his own place (details to be announced). End of an era.... vague sensation of panic .... this man is the life & soul of The Dining Room. We owe our success to him.... (A bus has been hired to descend on his opening night & create havoc!)

Richards place...
You need to go there
(he does rooms) - it's brilliant !
The Cottage of Content
Carey, Hereford
Herefordshire
HR2 6NG
01432 840242
www.cottageofcontent.co.uk
2008 July. talkbackTHAMES (heard of The Apprentice?) bring in the stars and filming commences.
LOVE THE PLACE YOU'RE IN Not sure when it starts - look out for it and let us know!

2008 We needn't to have worried! After 7 years as Richard's 2nd in command & 2 years spent honing his Head Cheffing (& snowboarding...!) skills in the Alps, Trevor returns - this time as Head Chef!
This is phenomenal... the menu has been totally energised. Old favourites are EVEN better & the new stuff is SENSATIONAL. Trevor's innovative talent & obsession with flavours is taking us to new heights. Ably aided & abetted by Matt (2nd Chef) & Karl - the dream team has arrived!
2009 July. We now do whacky nuts & nibbles, bacon butties, sausage sarnies & lots of small/large options. Think less formal ....... Easier on the pocket, better for the laughter lines!