Gastro tourism boosts top eatery

CHEF ROSS Lewis said yesterday gastro tourism had contributed to an increase in revenues at his Chapter One restaurant in 2011.

Mr Lewis is chef patron at the Michelin-starred restaurant on Dublin’s Parnell Square and he said yesterday the restaurant recorded “a marginal profit” in the 12 months to the end of February.

According to accounts filed by the restaurant’s Lindley Ltd with the Companies Office, the company’s accumulated profits fell from €255,676 to €234,019 last year. However, the filings include a non-cash depreciation cost of €158,527.

The business’s cash increased during the year from €323,127 to €379,676. The directors’ report says directors “are satisfied with the performance of the company given the difficult trading conditions facing the hospitality sector”.

Mr Lewis said: “We performed well last year given the economic climate and also in spite of the effects of the ash cloud and the bad weather last December where we lost eight to 10 days.”

The restaurant employs 30 people. However, Mr Lewis said it was “quite unbelievable” that it has taken from April until now to fill three to four chef positions.

The business had to employ a recruitment agency in London to help fill the posts.

He said: “Chefs are part of a very mobile globalised workforce and it is not just our restaurant having difficulties in recruiting chefs. There is a shortage of chefs for example in France as well.”

Mr Lewis believes restaurants are benefiting from the drop in people going to pubs, as people see restaurants as a better place to socialise. “Also, food is everywhere. It’s on TV all the time and we would have seen an upturn with gastro tourism this year, where visitors are researching on food blog sites on what restaurants to go to when visiting Dublin.”