Starting Up with Claire Hilsdon @ Chariots and Cherry Pie

Inspired by the fun and fearlessness of the 1950s, when America’s love affair with cool cars and fabulous food was in full swing, Chariots and Cherry Pie is the only place where you can shine, dine and unwind in one location.

Just over seven weeks ago we opened the doors to our supremely comfortable Cherry Pie Diner on the A420 where we offer a wide selection of gourmet, home-cooked, authentic American diner food and drink.

In those seven weeks we can safely say that we’ve learnt a hell of a lot – and we continue to do so every single day.

We hold our hands up when we get things wrong and we make necessary changes – immediately.

The feedback from our guests is our greatest tool.

Around 90 per cent of the feedback that we’ve received has been extremely helpful in enabling us to see things that need fixing, and we do it.

Most recently we launched a new menu with dishes that our guests had expressed a desire for. We listen and we make changes.

The feedback also reaffirms that people love the concept we have created.

We are currently all hands on deck preparing for our Grove ‘Route 338’ opening which will be launching to the public on the afternoon of Monday, August 18, in the same way that we launched Route 420 with our trailer giving locals the opportunity to sample a taste of the things to come.

We still don’t know what will happen with the bridge on ‘Route 338’.

We’ve heard there may be a temporary bridge erected while the work is being carried out by Network Rail. But, even if it closes with no temporary bridge, we are cracking on and have overcome the possible access issue by securing access via the back of the site.

We are incredibly excited about our new site and encouraged that Williams F1 are almost opposite us in Grove and they, like the people in Wantage, Grove and surrounding villages have been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.

We are so proud of the brand that we have created and of the team we have working with us.

We have trademarked the logos and various elements relating to the business and we own the intellectual property on everything – from the recipes for our signature dishes through to the interior design specs.

This is because we have an ambitious vision to fulfil over the next few years and a consistent image and offering is key to growing a nationwide brand.

We are currently looking at other sites in Oxfordshire.

Both Jonathan and I are from this county and love being able to offer something new and special to our neighbours.

We love getting involved with the local community and to making visits a rewarding experience, every time.

Later this year we will be looking at franchising the concept to certain locations around the UK.

Chariots and Cherry Pie is scalable and potential franchisees will have the option of choosing to operate one, two, three or all four of the sub-brands which sit under the ‘Chariots and Cherry Pie’ master brand.

TRY IT
Route 420, American Diner and Car Spa, Buckland, Faringdon. 
www.chariotsandcherrypie.co.uk 0333 121 0066

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