Latest news with #Harvester
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Pontypool dad nearly choked to death at Father's Day meal
Derek Parker, 66, had been enjoying a special meal with his family at the Harvester restaurant in Pontypool on Sunday, June 15. However, this joyous occasion took a turn for the worst when Derek started choking on a mouthful of his steak. Luckily for Derek the Pontypool community helped him and his family during this frighting ordeal. The Parker family out for a family meal (Left dad Derek Parker 66 with wife Susan Parker 67) (Right daughter Amy Parker 30 and brother Matthew Parker 31) (Image: Amy Parker) Speaking of the traumatic experience Derek said: 'I had the steak and on my second mouthful I couldn't get it back up. 'Our son (Matthew) did the Heimlich manoeuvre on me and managed to dislodge some of it. He has Autism, so he did very well but he was afraid he'd hurt me, but I was still choking.' Derek continued: 'Apparently this little boy ran up to his mother and said a man has fallen down and a woman came over. She was an off-duty nurse.' Thankfully for Derek and his family, the off-duty nurse was in the right place at the right time. Derek Parker and Wife Susan Parker outside their Pontypool home with a card and bunch of flowers gifted to them by the Pontypool Harvester team. (Image: NQ) Derek explained: 'She took over and I remember someone saying to me can you open your eyes, can you open your mouth. I couldn't do either. 'The next thing I remember was them lifting me into the ambulance and I had a quick scan in the Grange, and I was rushed up stairs for surgery.' Staff at the hospital thought the food had penetrated Derek's lungs. Rapidly responding to the incident, doctors performed an emergency surgery on Derek to help flush any food, vomit or blood out of his lungs. Derek has since fully recovered from the incident. The card written to Derek and his family from the Pontypool Harvester team. (Image: NQ) Derek's daughter Amy Parker, 30, witnessed her father choking in front of her. She told the Argus her account of events. 'It's a horrible feeling on any day but especially on Father's Day. I thought my dad was dying in front of me. 'At one point I could see he was coughing. I kept saying are you okay? Do you need a drink? Then the drink came through his nose, and he started turning blue. I was panicking. 'I couldn't remember how to do the Heimlich manoeuvre so I shouted out can somebody help.' Amy continued: 'Everyone was so helpful, one woman named Amelia helped calm my brother outside, another man named Stephen offered to pay for our meal which Harvester gave us for free. 'Louise the nurse was brilliant, she talked to the 999 operator and was telling me different things and reassuring me.' The family are incredibly grateful for the support given to them through this terrible ordeal. Derek said: 'I want to thank all the people involved. Many people moved their tables for me because I was on the floor. I was lucky.' Amy added: 'I will forever be grateful for everyone's help and support that we received during this difficult time. 'From the moment he started choking, up until when he got discharged the following evening, we could not fault the care and support we received. 'I genuinely thought I'd lose my dad on that day, but I'm so thankful he's still here with us, and that's down to all the action and care we received during this difficult time.'
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Popular restaurant chain closes branch as customers say 'you will be missed'
Harvester, which has over 200 restaurants in the UK and is owned by Mitchell and Butlers, has updated the website page for this particular branch Harvester has closed one of its restaurants - leaving loyal visitors gutted. The pub and restaurant chain shut its branch in Bristol last week. Harvester, which has over 200 restaurants in the UK and is owned by Mitchell and Butlers, has updated the website page for this particular branch, with a message that reads: "This restaurant is now closed. "We have now closed our doors as a Harvester restaurant to make way for something new and exciting. You can find your nearest Harvester by using our Find a Harvester page." It is not yet known what will replace the restaurant, which was located in the Willow Brook Centre. The closure was also confirmed on Facebook, in a post which read: 'Today we close our doors for the last time at Harvester Willow Brook. 'It's a sad day for all team involved. We would like to thank all team, guests, friends and family for their support this week and always.' One person responded: 'Good luck to all the team for the future. It is a sad day. Love to you all.' Another said: 'What's the reason for closing? You will be very missed! Love visiting with my family. You've all been great, thank you.' Another said: 'On no that is sad. One favourite place to go.' A fourth person commented: 'Gutted you are closing, we come regularly and best one in area.' It comes after Korean fried chicken shop chain Chick 'n' Sours shut its Haggerston and Seven Dials restaurants in London as it was "no longer viable" to keep them open. The chain first opened in 2015 and was loved by Londoners for its sweet and sour cocktails, crispy chicken and seaweed crack seasoning. One of the restaurant's signature dishes was the Hot Chicken Bun which featured fried chicken thigh, house pickles, slaw, and a piquant sauce. In a post on Instagram, the restaurant's co-founder, David Wolanski, said the chain had hung on for "as long as we could". The post read: "Hello, it's with mixed emotions I'm here to tell you that we have closed our Chick 'N Sours restaurants in Seven Dials and Haggerston. 'Sunday night was our last day of trading. We do what we do because we love it, fuelled by passion and a desire to provide guests with awesome food and memorable dining experiences. But that's not enough these days. 'We hung in there as long as we could but I'm afraid that we've now reached the point where operating the two restaurants just isn't viable any more and it makes no commercial sense to continue. "The casual dining restaurant model is broken, but that's for another post. It's been an incredible journey from when Carl & I came up with the idea of opening the best chicken shop in the world 10 years ago on the back of my scooter."
Scottish Sun
08-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major pub and restaurant chain with over 200 sites suddenly closes branch in shopping centre
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. LAST ORDERS Major pub and restaurant chain with over 200 sites suddenly closes branch in shopping centre Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR pub and restaurant chain has closed one of its branches in a blow to loyal locals. The Harvester restaurant in Bristol wrapped up business this week - with the chain claiming its closure is to 'make way for something new and exciting'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A popular Harvester restaurant in Bristol shut its doors on Sunday Credit: Google Maps 3 The restaurant was Bradley Stoke's Willow Brook Centre Credit: Alamy Situated in Bradley Stoke's Willow Brook Centre, the restaurant served locals for years. The team announced in a post on Facebook last Sunday: "Today we close our doors for the last time at Harvester Willow Brook. "It's a sad day for all the team involved. "We would like to thank all team, guests, friends and family for their support this week and always." One diner commented: "Thank you team Harvester for serving Bradley Stoke and surrounds over the years. "I hope you have all found jobs to go to." Another person wrote: "Good luck to all the team for the future. It is a sad day. Love to you all." One user wrote: "Hopefully it's made into a Spoons instead." The Harvester website displays a message which reads: "This restaurant is now closed. "We have now closed our doors as a Harvester restaurant to make way for something new and exciting. You can find your nearest Harvester by using our Find a Harvester page." It is not yet known what will replace the restaurant. Major UK pub chain announces sweeping closures & job losses What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans It comes as a beloved bar chain with more than 30 locations in the UK announced it closed one of its shopping centre venues after nine years of trading. The Cosy Club at Ipswich's Buttermarket Shopping Centre announced it made the "very difficult decision" to close its doors on May 31. Managing Director Lucy Knowles revealed it was no longer "financially viable" for the popular restaurant to stay open. "We're very disappointed that, after nine years trading, we have taken the very difficult decision to close Cosy Club Ipswich," Lucy said. She added: "This is only the second Cosy Club we've ever closed but, unfortunately, it wasn't financially viable for us to continue trading there. "We would like to thank all of our team for their spirit, professionalism, and hard work and all our fabulous customers for their support over the years." Despite the closure, food lovers in Ipswich can still dine at Loungers - which operates Cosy Club - after confirming that Marinero Lounger is still set to open. The new bar and restaurant will open on July 2 at the Waterfront, in the former Burton and Sons warehouse.
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major pub and restaurant chain with over 200 sites suddenly closes branch in shopping centre
LAST ORDERS 'It's a sad day for all the team involved,' the restaurant team wrote All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. A MAJOR pub and restaurant chain has closed one of its branches in a blow to loyal locals. The Harvester restaurant in Bristol wrapped up business this week - with the chain claiming its closure is to 'make way for something new and exciting'. 3 3 Situated in Bradley Stoke's Willow Brook Centre, the restaurant served locals for years. The team announced in a post on Facebook last Sunday: "Today we close our doors for the last time at Harvester Willow Brook. "It's a sad day for all the team involved. "We would like to thank all team, guests, friends and family for their support this week and always." One diner commented: "Thank you team Harvester for serving Bradley Stoke and surrounds over the years. "I hope you have all found jobs to go to." Another person wrote: "Good luck to all the team for the future. It is a sad day. Love to you all." One user wrote: "Hopefully it's made into a Spoons instead." The Harvester website displays a message which reads: "This restaurant is now closed. "We have now closed our doors as a Harvester restaurant to make way for something new and exciting. You can find your nearest Harvester by using our Find a Harvester page." It is not yet known what will replace the restaurant. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans It comes as a beloved bar chain with more than 30 locations in the UK announced it closed one of its shopping centre venues after nine years of trading. The Cosy Club at Ipswich's Buttermarket Shopping Centre announced it made the "very difficult decision" to close its doors on May 31. Managing Director Lucy Knowles revealed it was no longer "financially viable" for the popular restaurant to stay open. "We're very disappointed that, after nine years trading, we have taken the very difficult decision to close Cosy Club Ipswich," Lucy said. She added: "This is only the second Cosy Club we've ever closed but, unfortunately, it wasn't financially viable for us to continue trading there. "We would like to thank all of our team for their spirit, professionalism, and hard work and all our fabulous customers for their support over the years." Despite the closure, food lovers in Ipswich can still dine at Loungers - which operates Cosy Club - after confirming that Marinero Lounger is still set to open. The new bar and restaurant will open on July 2 at the Waterfront, in the former Burton and Sons warehouse. 3
Press and Journal
02-06-2025
- Press and Journal
Fifteen-caravan Traveller convoy pitches-up at Inverdee playing fields
A 15-strong caravan camp has set up on Aberdeen playing fields as part of a summer holiday tour of Scotland. The Traveller convoy settled temporarily at the Inverdee playing fields, close to businesses such as Goals and Harvester, and arrived on Sunday June 1. Fifteen caravans along with towing vehicles were spotted on the large cricket pitch next to Great Southern Road. It is understood their arrival proved a surprise to local cricketers, who were forced to call of matches at the weekend. The Press and Journal went down to the site today to speak with one of the families, who told us they were visiting the city on holiday. They were in Aberdeen after previous stops in Edinburgh and Dundee, with the Highlands their next destination. According to one of the Travellers, the group had never stopped in the Granite City before but were pleasantly surprised by how friendly Aberdonians were. He said: 'We always try to find somewhere that is not going to be an issue for anyone, but it is getting harder every year to find a suitable site to set up on. 'We have passed through Aberdeen but never stopped. The people are friendly.' They had been on the site for only a day, arriving around lunchtime the day before. And it was something of a tight squeeze, due to the corner leading down to the pitches from the main road. One of the Travellers told us they 'don't want to upset anyone' and said they were only staying in the north-east for a week before moving on. The Travellers said they had been doing this for several years and found Aberdeen 'much nicer than Dundee'. Interactions between the adults and the young children at the site suggested a loving family unit. The caravans were spread out over the cricket pitch but all 15 families travel as one group. The travellers' arrival comes shortly after another group set up at Aberdeen Beach. We were told the two groups were separate and did not travel together. Within the Aberdeen city area, there few official Gypsy/Traveller sites, with the sole council facility at Clinterty, near the border with Aberdeenshire. It offers 21 permanent pitches, with a waiting list for spaces, and no provision for temporary stays. We also spoke to nearby football centre Goals, who told us the Travellers had asked to use their facilities but were refused permission. He went on to say that a group of cricketers who frequently use the ground were unable to play due to the travellers' presence on the pitch. They will not be able to use the playing field until the group vacate. The Goals worker also said that dog walkers had complained about the travellers' pets roaming freely around the area. A member of management at Harvester confirmed they had asked the group not to make use of the business' water tap after three individuals began filling water tanks. Its toilet facilities, they said, were also being used regularly. An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the encampment and we will progress action to have it removed as soon as possible. 'We are committed to engaging with the traveller community to address accommodation challenges they face.'
