A restaurant manager used to rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous has taken a ferry cross the Mersey to take on a new challenge in North Wales.
Emma Winter has been appointed the manager of Nando’s at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham.
She has worked at the Portuguese food chain’s largest restaurant in the world, at Liverpool One and in Queen’s Square in the City.
During that time she has looked after Keith Duffy from Boyzone and served former Everton footballer Yakubu Aiyegbeni. She’s also spotted actors from Liverpool soap Hollyoaks and spoken to musician Ed Sheeran.
“Ed just came in and I had a chat with him. I love his music and I had a quick chat about that,” she said.
Now Emma wants to see some well known faces in the Eagles Meadow establishment. Nando’s Restaurant has been situated at the shopping centre since it opened three years ago and she “loves the family vibe” there.
“I don’t think they’ve had anyone famous in the Wrexham restaurant. It would be amazing to have the Welsh rugby team,” she said.
Emma has been part of the 18 strong team in Wrexham for the past three weeks. She said customers and staff have been “very supportive”.
“I was working in the Liverpool One restaurant which is the biggest Nando’s in the world. Wrexham is very, very quiet compared to what I’m used to but I’ve got time to get used to everyone.
Emma, who plans to move to Chester, was one of the first people employed on Nando’s graduate scheme. It’s an 18 month fast track scheme and meant the 25-year-old from Essex had to travel around the country.
“It was great, I worked in four different restaurants for Nando’s and I ran the outdoor catering for them,” she said.
However, she’s happy to get a permanent base at Eagles Meadow. She said the food chain is doing well despite the recession. “It’s doing fantastic. We’re up every week and it’s growing and improving. I’m concentrating on getting the service fantastic and then after that I’ll look at marketing”.
Kevin Critchley, the manager of Eagles Meadow, welcomed Emma’s appointment.
He said: “Emma is a great addition to the Nando’s team at Eagles Meadow and she is keen to uphold the chain’s reputation for fantastic food.”
