Stone Life June July 2014 | Page 29

GRANVILLES successful years in business for itself, but it was a visit by a rather high profile diner which launched Granvilles into the big time. “A friend of mine Ian Fitzjohn phoned to see if I had a table for five free one Saturday night and dropped in that he was bringing Cliff Richard, I thought it was a wind up when I put the phone down but it turned out to be completely true.” Cliff had been performing at Trentham in some sort of gospel event along with Paul Jones and Ian had been involved with the organising of the event. “An hour or so later they turned up and by complete chance a member of the local press happened to be dining with us that evening too, so literally overnight we became very well known.” Who would have thought Cliff Richard had played a part in the making of Granvilles. Just another thread in a very interesting yarn which has been woven at the restaurant and music venue over the years. Piece by piece Granvilles has evolved into the popular and acclaimed venue it is today. “We had been open about five years when we thought it would be a good idea to expand, and when the building next door became available we got our chance.” ® June/July 2014 29