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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Susan Smillie

Heston Blumenthal's reinvention of Little Chef

Gallery Little Chef revamp: Big Chef Little Chef
Heston Blumenthal with the Little Chef team. Manager, Michael (third from the right), so full of enthusiasm for the new branch in last night's show, has now intriguingly departed Popham Photograph: Channel 4
Gallery Little Chef Revamp: Little Chef condiments
I asked the manager if anyone had stolen the ketchup dispensers yet. No one has, but one old lady asked for one and got it. We want one, Heston! Photograph: PR
Gallery Little Chef Revamp: Little Chef dining area
Yes. Here it is. In an inspired move, Blumenthal delivered to Ian Pegler the "blue sky thinking" he'd been so keen on. Nice one Heston. Photograph: PR
Gallery Little Chef Revamp: Little Chef retail area
On the tables, there are cards that ask people to nominate their favourite retro sweets to stock in the shop. Refreshers, anyone? Photograph: PR
Gallery Little Chef Revamp: Little Chef dining area
Kevin McCloud liked the design, although he wasn't keen on the ceiling. Word of Mouth backs the ceiling all the way Photograph: PR
Gallery Little Chef Revamp: Little Chef kitchen
Ash, head chef at Fat Duck, gets to grips with the new menu Photograph: PR
Gallery Little Chef Revamp: Little Chef fish and chips
The new fish and chips. Blumenthal's Little Chef assistant (sort of a hybrid Julie Critchelow and Natasha from Rotheram, Anne, thought there weren't enough chips. But she liked it. And we like her Photograph: PR
Gallery Little Chef Revamp: Little Chef till
The AA Milne quote, and others, appear around the restaurant too, notably in the loos, along with a Spike Milligan soundtrack Photograph: PR
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