JAMIE OLIVER’S

NEW EVENTS TEAM AND WOODS’ SILVER FLEET

FORM A NEW PARTNERSHIP ON THE THAMES

An inspired fleet of the finest vessels on the most iconic stretch of water in the country, food wholeheartedly focused on the best

ingredients from Jamie Oliver’s new event team and bespoke styling from one of London’s leading event personalities – a new

and unrivalled approach to ‘Relaxed Luxe’ in the capital…

LAUNCHING 16TH AUGUST 2011

PRESS RELEASE

As 2012 is such a huge year for Great Britain (with the Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee) the Woods felt they wanted to launch a new movement in event design – what has been dubbed ‘Relaxed Luxe’ - making the food and the architectural line of their boats the focus. After visiting and sampling the menus at Jamie’s new City restaurant, Barbecoa, and Garsington Opera in Oxfordshire, as well as being shown the impassioned philosophies and ethos behind the team’s wonderful ‘Food Charter’ - they decided the man to realise their vision is Jamie Oliver and his new events team.

From 16th August 2011 Woods’ Silver Fleet – including flagship vessel, the Silver Sturgeon – will see Oliver’s distinctive style of menus aboard, focusing very much on a celebration of all that the Great British table has to o!er. Rather than trends and gimmicks, Jamie’s new menus will take their cue from foods at their seasonal best, matched with all that flavour and delicious simplicity can bring to a meal – the pleasure being all in the eating. Marry this with an elegant, architect-designed vessel with rolling London riverscapes of the Thames from every window and deck and the sense of drama and passion of a truly unique experience is evident.

Woods’ Silver Fleet will also be bringing in experts to enhance this elite experience on the river. The creations in Jamie’s new events team’s galley will be complemented by the option of bespoke styling for events by Fiona Leahy. Leahy is one of the event industry portfolio’s most glamorous names, having produced parties for Louis Vuitton, the Elle Style Awards, Harvey Nichols, Garrard, Jade Jagger and Mark Ronson, to name but a few. With this impressive collection under her belt Leahy will be the creative behind the summer and Christmas parties, as well as o!ering her expertise as in-house event designer throughout the year, when required.

Similarly, Oliver and his team too are busy making a name for themselves, daring to break the mould of conventional event menus. The menus for the Silver Sturgeon are inspired by Jamie’s exploration of di!erent food cultures; taking British dishes with a discreet twist as their lead (what he refers to as ‘the Magpie e!ect’), as well as his traditional beliefs for how food should be enjoyed.

The new menu collections for Autumn/ Winter 2011 – Spring /Summer 2012 will be available from 16th August 2011 and will be available to clients privately booking a Woods’ Silver Fleet vessel, Veuve Clicquot Cruise or the soon-to-be-announced Christmas and New Year Cruises for 2011.

IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2011 THE NEW LOOK, ‘RELAXED LUXE’ CANAPÉS, BOWL FOOD AND ON DECK COOKING WILL BE SHOWCASED AT THE INVITATION ONLY ANNUAL CLIENT AND PRESS PARTY ABOARD THE SILVER STURGEON.

JAMIE OLIVER SAID “Myself and my events food team are so happy to be working with the Woods family on their beautiful fleet of boats. The family have been running this business on the Thames for five generations now, and they’re as passionate about their fleet as I am about the food we’ll be serving on-board. Of course, we’ll be using loads of great British produce, and taking inspiration from around the world for our exciting dishes and on-deck barbecues.”

“This is about using great food and service to create a relaxed atmosphere so guests can sit back and enjoy the food as they take in the scenery. I might be biased, but I think London is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and with the Olympics just around the corner there’s no better time to celebrate British food, or London itself. I’m looking forward to working with the Woods, and I think we’ll be able to do incredible things together.”

TOM WOODS, MD OF WOODS’ SILVER FLEET ADDED: “Our passions are boats and food. With Jamie and his new events team and the stylish, creative eye of Fiona Leahy, a party aboard the Silver Sturgeon or Royal Nore will be one of the most glorious places in London to enjoy delicious, honest food which reflects Jamie’s passionate personality.”

SINCE THE LATE 1940S THE WOODS FAMILY HAS ENTERTAINED THE GREAT AND THE GOOD - FROM BRIGITTE BARDOT AND WILL SMITH, TO ELTON JOHN AND PRINCE CHARLES - AND ALWAYS LOVED OFFERING THEIR CLIENTS BEAUTIFUL HAND-BUILT BOATS AND GREAT FOOD.

WOODS’ SILVER FLEET Based at the private Savoy Pier, woods’ Silver fleet has o!ered design-led luxury river boats on the Thames since 1947. The Woods family have been Watermen on the river Thames since 1866. The fleet includes the 61m ‘superyacht’, Silver Sturgeon, the Royal Barge and the new, luxe river taxi, Silver Darling. Chairman, Alan Woods, is an Extra Waterman to HM the Queen and also founded the highly successful Thames commuter service, Thames Clippers, in 1999.

For interviews, photography or any further information please contact:

Kate Woods Design and Development Director Woods’ Silver Fleet

020 7759 1900 or 07788 436458 pr@silverfleet.co.uk

JAMIE OLIVER’S FABULOUS FEASTS Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts is a partnership between Jamie and fresh food expert Nigel Harris, based on a shared passion for delivering an exciting new concept to the event catering industry. The company was launched in May 2010 to serve the hospitality, public and fixed venues sectors.

Together, Jamie and Nigel have created a unique o!ering that concentrates on sourcing the best food from great producers. Fabulous Feasts strives to use British growers and farmers wherever possible, but if taking a swim o! UK shores means getting the best ingredients, then that’s what the company does. Jamie’s creative twist and flair is then added to dishes and delivered through an established, experienced team to three main sectors in the event catering industry. Fabulous Feasts’ vibrant menus never compromise on quality. Above all, Fabulous Feasts is about taking the best raw ingredients, working to Jamie’s ethos for high welfare, free-range, sustainable and superb quality products to create tasty, memorable menus for every plate or bowl of food served.

THE JAMIE OLIVER GROUP The Jamie Oliver group of companies is responsible for ‘all things Jamie’, in particular food and recipe development, books, television, food and non-food products, endorsements, PR, marketing and syndication throughout the world. Within the group there are a range of businesses which span across various industries such as retail, TV, consumer goods, graphic design, publishing and catering as well as the Jamie Oliver Foundation which funds and promotes programmes that help improve lives through food. The Jamie Oliver Group value simplicity and encourage our sta! to enjoy themselves at work whilst working hard. We ask everyone to pull together as a team, come up with fresh, great ideas and adapt to change in order to grow with the business for the future.

EDITOR’S CONTACT Gemma Harris Director of Marketing Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts

07738 458222 gemma.harris@fabulousfeasts.co.uk

EDITOR’S NOTES