insideKENT Magazine Issue 81 - December 2018 | Page 155

NEWS
BLUEWATER GOES PURPLE TO SUPPORT
DISABLED GUESTS.
L-R: Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, CEO Best Western Great Britain Rob Paterson, MD Black &
White Hospitality Brandie Diegnan, Town Mayor of Dover Cllr Sue Jones, Vice-chairman of
Dover District Council Cllr David Hannent and Mr K Rajaseelan (Seelan) at the opening of the
new Mr White’s Chophouse at the Dover Marina Hotel.
DOVER HOTEL IS FIRST TO OFFER TWO MARCO
PIERRE WHITE RESTAURANTS
Guests enjoyed a taste of Marco Pierre White-inspired hospitality at
the opening of two new restaurants at the Dover Marina Hotel in
November.
The hotel is now home to Mr White’s English Chophouse and Wheeler’s
Fish and Chips, both launched with the backing of cooking’s enfant
terrible, the inimitable Marco Pierre White.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke unveiled the restaurants at the Dover Marina
Hotel, which offers stunning sea views as well as great food and top-
class service.
“We are absolutely delighted that Marco has shown such faith in the
hotel by allowing us to showcase his brand,” commented managing
director Mr K Rajaseelan.
He went on: “We are proud of what we have created here and we
believe that our partnership with Marco and his Black & White Hospitality
company will not just be good for the hotel, but will also help to make
Dover a destination for people who enjoy great food.”
The four-star, Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel and Spa has a
prime position on Waterloo Crescent and offers unbeatable views of
the beach and the sea beyond.
Brandie Deignan, managing director of Black & White Hospitality,
pointed out that the hotel was the first in the world to have two Marco-
inspired restaurants in the same place.
To mark Purple Tuesday, which took place in November, Bluewater
has been working with the disability charity Purple to improve the
shopping experience of disabled guests. This includes
implementing disability-focused customer service
communications and training and planning a regular Disability
Working Group to discuss how to make shopping more inclusive
for all guests.
The Disability Working Group will provide a forum for local carers
and disabled people to discuss ways to improve the experience
for disabled guests in and around the mall. Plus, Bluewater issued
information packs to all retailers with practical tips and advice for
helping disabled guests in-store as part of on-going customer
service training.
Bluewater has also been named the first shopping centre in the
UK to achieve Disability Confident level 3 Leader status from the
Department of Work and Pensions, in recognition of
its commitment to providing an environment that is inclusive
and accessible for all staff.
Mike Adams, CEO of Purple, comments: “Less than 10% of
companies have a dedicated strategy for targeting disabled
customers, however there are many adjustments retailers can
make that will have a positive impact on disabled consumers’
shopping experiences. Fundamentally, Purple Tuesday isn’t about
a single day in the year but encouraging lasting change that creates
a virtuous circle between businesses and disabled consumers.
We’re really excited to be working with Bluewater, who are already
making positive and impactful changes for disabled people.”
HOMEWOOD’S DANCE DASH RAISES THOUSANDS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
Homewood School and Sixth
Form Centre ‘did their own thing’
in a big way for BBC Children In
Need on Friday 16th and Saturday
17th November, celebrating 25
years of their annual Dance Dash
around Ashford and the Weald.
The marathon event beat all
previous records, raising over
£3,000 across the two days as the
school’s talented dancers
performed a five-minute
choreographed routine at dozens
of locations including schools,
shops and supermarkets.
This year, two teams took part:
one visiting primary schools in
the Weald and the other covering
schools and other venues in the
Ashford area, with collections
made at each venue.
Additional fundraising activity at
the school has so far raised
another £1,300, taking the total to
a mighty £4,300 and helping to
bring the amount the school has
raised for Children In Need over
the last 25 years to an estimated
£75,000.
“This event has become very
special to us,” said Homewood
dance teacher Emily Harris
(pictured centre) who organised
this year’s dash and herself took
part in the event as a Homewood
student.
“The dancers put their hearts and souls into their performance which,
as always, was well received by our audiences and we have raised a
remarkable sum for this worthy cause.”
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