AWARD-winning pub, restaurant and hotel The Pheasant at Gestingthorpe, near Sudbury, has welcomed a new and innovative chef, Guy Alabaster, who is already proving to be a big hit with diners.

Without knowing, The Pheasant’s owners, James and Diana Donoghue, have been in close proximity with Guy for the last 25, as they each worked in similar parts of the country around the same time. Guy has designed menus and managed kitchens in a range of prestigious establishments, ranging from a brasserie in Mayfair, a Michelin starred restaurant in Yorkshire, and most recently, Scutchers, the fine dining restaurant in Long Melford.

“I’m delighted to have joined The Pheasant,” said Guy. “Diana and James both have such a strong vision for what the pub, restaurant and hotel can become and I’m sure it’s going to be a long and successful working relationship.”

Guy is already in the process of developing the menu.

“Guy’s experience makes him the perfect addition to The Pheasant,” said head chef James.

James and Diana are in the process of cultivating a one acre plot of land to supply their kitchen with fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs.

“We want to be known for producing delicious, fresh and seasonal food,” said Diana. “We want our customers to know where they are in the country, and what time of year it is when they visit us – and we’re sure that they’ll continue to enjoy our food.”

: : UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) has appointed four highly regarded business leaders as Visiting Professors and Senior Fellows within the School of Business and Leadership to contribute to the research, enterprise and teaching and learning within their specialised fields.

These latest appointments add to the 15 prominent Visiting Professors and Senior Fellows already appointed within the School of Business, Leadership and Enterprise at UCS and adds further gravitas to its reputation globally.

Strategic management guru, television presenter and award-winning copywriter Professor Tony Eccles joins UCS as Visiting Professor of Leadership for Competitiveness and Change. He was Professor of Strategic Management at London Business School for 15 years and has also held positions at Manchester, Glasgow, Cranfield and Bath management schools and has experience of consulting with major international organisations as well as leading many senior executive workshops.

Those joining UCS as Visiting Senior Fellows include Michael Parker, chairman of national charity Street League, David Ralph, chief executive of the Haven Gateway Partnership, and sought-after business adviser and trouble-shooter Christiane Wuillamie.

Professor David Weir, who joined UCS as Head of School of Business, Leadership and Enterprise in 2011 having previously guided four university business xchools, said of the appointments: “The School of Business, Leadership and Enterprise is delighted that our colleagues and students can benefit from the experience and skills of these leading players.”

Links with business are strong within the school, especially locally in the East of England, with involvement in curriculum development, continuing professional development, research and consultancy. The school is planning for significant growth in student numbers, further development of its external links and on-going internationalisation of the curriculum.

: : FORMER Baker Tilly senior manager Cara Miller has launched Miller Wash Associates LLP with former colleague Colin Wash.

The newly established accountancy firm, based in Ipswich, provides a broad range of services to a number of organisations, with a particular focus on the charity and education sectors.

Cara was with Baker Tilly for 13 years where she obtained the AAT, ATT and ACCA qualifications, hitting the headlines when she was named the World Wide Gold Medal winner for achieving the highest marks in the world for the six professional stage exams.

After completing a year-long secondment with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and Suffolk Foundation in 2011, Cara felt even more determined to follow her dream and Miller Wash Associates is the result.

She said: “Charities face increasing pressure in the current economic climate and feel unable to justify to the board of trustees, members of the public and to themselves, paying expensive professional fees for a basic service and they shouldn’t have to.

“I am passionate about delivering exceptional service to my clients through a relationship that doesn’t make someone feel as though the meter is running the moment they pick up the phone and through delivering value added services such as trustee training.

“Miller Wash Associates was established because I truly believe I can help charities reduce their professional fees enabling more of their hard earned money to be spent on charitable causes and delivering a service that delights. This is the right thing to do and is very important to me.”