[title]
If you happen to stumble across a gang of waiters running amok in Hyde Park tomorrow, don’t panic. The annual National Waiters’ Day race is back for a fifth year, for any front-of-house staff who want to escape the restaurant floor and let loose. Whether you’re a bartender or a maître d’, anyone in the hospitality biz can join the 1km race, in which hundreds of waiters attempt to cross the finish line as quickly as possible without dropping a tray holding a bottle of water and a glass.
Spectators can cheer on their favourite waiters from 2pm at the bandstand in Hyde Park. And what’s more, London’s most debonair maître d’, Fred Sirieix from First Dates (obvs), will be in attendance. Not only will he be dishing out inspiring quotes about love and life, he’ll also be supporting the runners and showcasing the ‘dedication, skills and hard work of front-of-house staff’. Fred, who is general manager at the restaurant Galvin at Windows when he’s not busy matchmaking, said: ‘It’s essential that we promote the ocean of career opportunities hospitality has to offer, celebrate the hard work of front-of-house professionals, and encourage more people to begin great careers in hospitality.’