The Pheasant Restaurant - The Paoloni's
The Seavington News - November 1992
VILLAGE PEOPLE
EDMONDO AND JACQUELINE PAOLONI
Most people like success stories, and Seavington has one in the Pheasant, which has developed into a very well established high quality restaurant and hotel since Edmondo and Jacqueline took over in 1980.
Don Hill, who still lives in Seavington took the original initiative. His hard work in converting what had been semi derelict farm buildings, which took six years, meant that when the Paoloni’s moved in there was already the nucleus of the present business.
Originally from Rome, Edmondo trained in hotel management in Italy and Switzerland, before moving to Birmingham for what he thought would be a short assignment, helping a friend who was managing the Grand Hotel there. After two months he met his wife Jacqueline, and has lived in England ever since. He led a varied and interesting career in hotel management in prominent hotels in and around London. He has looked after Royalty, Casisus Clay, the Beatles and helped to arrange a hotel bathrooms full of mirrors for Zsa Zsa Gabor. He was loosely involved with the 1966 World Cup Final Banquet for 1000 people. As the match went to extra time he was more worried than most about a draw; it would have meant a fairly sizeable cancellation !
Ever adaptable, he moved to the Clarendon Court Hotel, next to Lords Cricket Ground, where he became closely involved in looking after most of the prominent cricketers who played there, including touring test sides. At this time he became the only Italian member of the M.C.C.
The decision to move from the Clarendon, and buy The Pheasant, represented a major change, and he now admits that it took him two or three years to fully adjust, as Seavington is so different from London. He grew to recognise its advantages, not least the loyal, honest and very capable local staff who have greatly contributed to The Pheasant’s success.
Edmondo and Jacqueline have progressively expanded the business over the years, despite increasing competition from other well run quality restaurants and hotels. Their son Julian, having recently completed a three year hotel management course in Switzerland, is currently helping in the business. Many of the Pheasant’s guests have become regulars. Others, such as Prince Charles (when training at Yeovilton) less so, but nonetheless welcome ! Some discerning tourists find their way to this part of Somerset, and the hotels tend rooms provide comfortable accommodation for them. Businessmen visiting the area often stay, perhaps after looking it up in the Good Food Guide.
The Paoloni’s, who live at The Pheasant, very much like it here, and, after twelve years, feel they have put down roots in the village, and have no plans to move on. Edmondo feels that one of Seavington’s problems is its geographical layout. It has no centre, and it is a surprisingly long way from one end to the other. It is obviously not easy to do much about this, but he senses rather less cohesion than might be expected in a village.
One development which he would like to see is the opportunity to welcome more people to The Pheasant ! It has a local reputation for being expensive, which he tackles head on.
While accepting that his restaurant meals are certainly not cheap, in his view a cost of £22.25 per person is not, by todays standards, a lot to pay for a three course meal (with plenty of choices per course) plus wine, pre-dinner drinks and coffee. In other words, a very pleasant, comfortable night out, without the trouble or expense of cooking your own meal.
Finally, clarification of the famous sign [Lunch only on Sundays]. It means both of the things that you think. It is only possible to lunch at The Pheasant on Sunday, and not on other days. On Sunday there is no evening meal.