Kitchen Rat celebrates the end of the week and takes a sneaky selfie

Cook to perfection

The Caterer's rat-in-residence extends his congratulations to Robert Cook, who will take over from Karen Forrester as chief executive of TGI Fridays next month. We understand it’s unlikely that Cook, who previously headed up Malmaison, Hotel du Vin and Village Urban Resorts, will be using the group’s name in vain at the end of each week – rumour has it he has been eyeing a return to hospitality for some time. I’m sure all those in the industry will be pleased to have his creativity, wit and famed golf swing back.

Not staying Idle

As Cook returns to the crease, Guy Owen bids farewell to the Idle Rocks, but fear not – rumour has it he will just be taking a short paddle up the Cornish coastline… watch this space.

No sense or sensibility

Brown’s hotel hit the headlines of The Sunday Times this week after a member of staff was reportedly suspended for asking actor Emma Thompson for a selfie as she enjoyed a meal.

While understanding the need to protect the privacy of guests, this rat can’t help but think gleefully of the wall of selfies the hotel could have massed since opening its doors in 1837.

Think Arthur Conan Doyle in a deerstalker, Oscar Wilde languishing in the Donovan bar, Bram Stoker with some Snapchat vampire fangs, Agatha Christie with a magnifying glass – not to mention the potential of Steven King channelling his inner Jack Torrance or Boris Johnson celebrating his appointment as prime minister by re-enacting that zipline incident on the hotel staircase.