Quorn Business News

New Business in the Village

Robert Whowell & Partners, a firm of Chartered Accountants have relocated to Quorn after some 25 years of operating from Leicester City centre. The decision to relocate was taken as it became more evident that clients and staff alike were unable to readily access the Leicester offices due to the congested roads of the City and the restrictive parking provision. Also the organic expansion of the Firm necessitated larger premises, and with its friendly environment and excellent communications Quorn was selected as an ideal location.

The great majority of the 20 strong staff and Partners live close to Quorn and have already found that not only has the time taken travelling to and from the office been greatly reduced, but that the working environment is more pleasant than imagined.

Robert Whowell, the Managing Partner, has been in practice since 1964 and has always lived in the area apart from a four year spell working in London post qualification. Ian Agar, who recently moved home to Quorn, qualified in 1984 before joining the Firm as Partner in 1987.

Ian is a keen golfer and member of Quorn Tennis Club. He now returns to the village where he spent his childhood. Jason Whowell recently joined the Partnership following a twelve-year career in General Practice Estate Agency. He recently moved to Wymeswold from Nottingham following the Firm's relocation, effectively returning home to the area where he grew up. Jason qualified as a Chartered Accountant last year.

Since the Firm's arrival in Quorn, such has been the expansion through new clients and the mergers, the Firm has employed a Tax Specialist, an ex Revenue Inspector, to assist the Partners, as well as two local school-leavers to join their training programme that will hopefully lead to them gaining qualification. Wherever possible, it is the Firm's policy to actively support local Business and Enterprise.

Quorn Country Hotel - latest developments

Originally a director of Paramount Hotels, Managing Director, Liam Walshe, is an accomplished and experienced hotelier. In 1998, Liam established Prima Hotels. Their first venture was the Quorn Country Hotel, and in 2000, the Stanneylands Hotel in Cheshire became Prima's second acquisition. More recently Hellaby Hall Hotel in South Yorkshire has been added to the portfolio.

In addition to implementing refurbishment and expansion programmes in each hotel, Prima's policy is to continuously re-assess and re-evaluate the quality of service that is provided to their guests.

One of the highlights of Quorn Country Hotel's programme is the development of Quorndon House, a new state-of-the-art conference and banqueting suite. This new facility has the capacity to cater for up to 300 delegates, with banqueting facilities for 270 guests.

As well as the conference suites, seven new executive bedrooms have been included in Quorndon House, complimenting the original 20 bedrooms and 3 suites in the existing building.

The first major event in this new facility will be the Breast Cancer Ball on 28th September.

A Taste Of The Orient in Quorn

Halina Hung and Neale Rothera first met some 12 years ago and have been firm friends ever since. Halina and her husband, Derek, own the Japanese "Ginza" restaurant in Nottingham and had often talked about opening a similar restaurant. The biggest problem was where? Neale had spotted the increase in quality eating places in Quorn and became convinced that this was an ideal spot for the next, but the next problem was premises. Through a friend he got to know that QTS, on Leicester Road was soon to vacate their existing offices. Neale went to see the owners and they agreed terms. Work on the premises began in July and should be finished early in October.

The new restaurant called "Halinas" will be licensed and open every day for lunches and evening meals. They will be able to cater for parties, weddings etc. and menus can be designed separately for these occasions.

The restaurant will have a variety of Japanese and Thai dishes and Halina points out that there is much more to this type of cooking than raw fish and fiery curries. The menu will use quality produce cooked in traditional ways using spices and herbs to give subtle flavours. Halina and Neale look forward to seeing you in the future.

Quorn WorkNet

Open to all villagers who work from home, run small businesses in the area, or who are teleworkers. Meetings first Monday of the month, 12.45pm to 1.45pm in The Quorndon Fox.

Call Karenna or Ian on 412144 or email kgcquorndon@hotmail.com for details.