Family Connections

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Family Connections: Culpeper House

August 11, 2010 in Family Connections | 3 comments

In the next part of our Family Connections is our father, Ian Thomas, who was formerly the chairman of Culpeper House, now Culpeper Ltd. After the founder, Hilda Leyel, died in 1957, the business began to deteriorate. When Ian took over in 1972 the remaining shop was at 21, Bruton St. He rebuilt the business to 19 shops in the UK, four in Japan and two in Malaysia.

Whilst searching for information about Culpeper we found some rather fine old advertisements. They date from 1939 and use fantastic straplines: ‘For complete loveliness’ and ‘She was the loveliest bride of the year’. Wonderfully simple! You can see them here: http://www.oldadvertisements.co.uk/Advertisers/CulpeperBalm.htm.

Family Connections: Emmett’s of Peasenhall

July 28, 2010 in Family Connections | 3 comments

Last week we introduced our brother Jamie, who runs The Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate. Our other brother, Mark, runs Emmett’s of Peasenhall in Suffolk, producers and sellers of hams and bacons. The shop has  been featured on Rick Stein’s Food Heroes and listed in the Independent’s 50 Best Food Shops.

The shop has been trading since 1820 and Mark bought the business in 2000. Building on the brilliant reputation the family built up before him, Mark has grown the business, introducing a cafe and webshop, amongst other things. He is still very involved in the day to day running of the shop and inparticular the curing and smoking.

Mark has put some of his recipes online and we strongly recommend them, particularly his Sri Lankan Curry.

Family Connections: The Royal Harbour Hotel

July 22, 2010 in Family Connections | No comments

Emma and I come from a long line of entrepeneurs. Our brother Jamie runs The Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate. It is an absolutely fantastic place to stay, with loads of nautical features and fantastic views across the harbour.

There’s also plenty to do in Ramsgate locally, and with more people going on holiday in the UK this year, this could be the perfect place! We are obviously a little bit biased…

The next Family Connections will be about our other brother Mark and his shop, Emmetts.