Five-star John has massive appetite... for success

John Stevenson in kitchen whites at the Hilton in Thailand

Oldham Works: a major Chronicle campaign to boost Oldham, its business, and its people

A LOVE of cooking — and food, he readily admits — has led to a new lease of life for John Stevenson.

The proprietor of Mann’s Wharf, which specialises in outside catering for corporate occasions as well as traditional celebration events, has carved out a new career from his Greenfield base near the River Tame.

Working full-time in the business with John are his wife, Jeannette, daughter, Helen, from Mossley, and assistant chef John Morgan, from Springhead. It’s a combination that really seems to work because the firm has attracted Five Stars from the new Oldham Council health and hygiene ratings.

“This has made be really proud, but it was relatively easy for us, to be honest,” said John, adding: “We have always kept a diary of cooking temperatures and how we chill food.”

He developed a love of cooking while running an old folk’s care home. “I introduced menus of choice for the residents, which were really well received, and that led to me opening a restaurant in Friezeland Church Hall one night a week. Things developed from there, really. The restaurant lasted about five years, until we got so busy with the outside catering that we simply couldn’t cope with both.”

The reputation of the business has been developed on the same lines as the restaurant’s, with the day’s menu based on what he bought fresh at market that morning.

John said: “Our ethos is that we always cook everything fresh for every job — whether it is a corporate dinner, a wedding buffet or a barbecue.”

His love of all things food and cooking led to him working while on a family holiday in Thailand. Chats with the waiters led to John donning a set of whites and working in the kitchens.

“I am always looking for new menus and recipes and the Hilton lads gave me some great ideas,” he said.