Serving the Teesside Business Community | 31
Coatham leads the way for corporate market
W
hen SABIC brought 150
of its staff from the USA,
Middle East and Europe to
Teesside to build a new IT
system for its Wilton site,
the chemical giant faced a considerable
logistical transport challenge.
The staff were based in hotels across
Teesside and as far afield as Tyneside but
all needed to be at Wilton each weekday
morning to work on the introduction of the
SAP software – before being ferried back
to their temporary accommodation each
evening.
SABIC threw down the gauntlet to trusted
local firm Coatham Coaches – and the longestablished coach hire company rose to the
challenge.
Coatham managing director Mark Hodgson
recalls: “Over the course of several months
we bussed up to 150 SABIC people to Wilton
on a daily basis from numerous hotels across
Teesside and the North-East.
“Often they weren’t able to tell us exactly
what they needed for the following week
until the day before, so it was a busy time
for us but the sort of operation we’re always
confident of delivering.”
Last year Coatham Coaches celebrated
35 years in operation by investing more than
£500,000 in three super-green coaches to
help achieve a record turnover of more than
£1 million.
Having taken over an established taxi firm,
Coatham now operate a fleet of 15 coaches
and five cars from their base in Margrove
Park, on the outskirts of Guisborough.
A family-run firm that prides itself on
quality, Coatham was initially run by Mark’s
father, former Guisborough Town FC manager
Mike Hodgson, who remains very involved to
this day.
Whilst Mark is now managing director, his
sisters Nicky and Louise work in the office,
brother-in-law Andy is in charge of the fleet
and workshop, while Andy’s son Aarron is
employed as an apprentice fitter.
Mark says: “Whilst much of our work
comes from schools, our range of vehicles
– from BMW cars, Mercedes MPVs, luxury
minicoaches to 57-seat luxury coaches –
means we have the flexibility to deliver the
kind of ad-hoc, bespoke service SABIC and
other corporates require.
“Much of our work comes from repeat
business and reputation because we’re
both approachable and flexible – and, most
importantly, we deliver.”
For more details visit www.
coathamcoaches.co.uk or call 01287 652222.
Award-winning food at a price to delight!
W
hen it comes to restaurant
awards, no eaterie on Teesside
can match Chadwicks Inn, the
traditional country pub and
restaurant that sits in the village of Maltby,
nestled between Ingleby Barwick and
Stainton, just a few minutes’ drive from Yarm.
Owners Helen Gill, Lee Tolley and head
chef Steven Lawford are understandably
proud that Chadwicks last year became
the only restaurant in the area awarded
the Michelin “Bib Gourmand”, symbolising
restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide
offering “exceptional good food at moderate
prices”.
And therein lies the challenge for the
trio of owners. Such prestigious awards,
which also include two AA Rosettes and a
listing in the Michelin Guide for the past six
years, bring prestige and publicity. But they
also paint an image of a restaurant where
impressive awards and wonderful food are
matched by eye-watering prices. But nothing
could be further from the truth.
Helen admits: “Some people do have a
perception of Chadwicks being expensive,
probably as a direct result of the success
we’ve had with the awards. But our value
offering is something we do need to shout
about more.
“We do have an a la carte menu, but we
also have a great value lunchtime and early
evening menu that offers up good quality
Chadwicks owners Helen Gill and Lee Tolley
(right) with restaurant manager James
Coles and head chef Steven Lawford.
food at very affordable prices, including
everything from a fish finger sandwich to a
homemade beef burger. We also have steak
and wine evenings every Wednesday and
hugely popular Sunday lunches.
“Discerning eaters do travel fair distances
to visit AA and Michelin-listed restaurants so
our customers do come from far and wide
but we’re here for the people of Teesside
too, and we’re aware there are some who’ve
never given us a try yet.”
Helen and her husband, ex-Middlesbrough
FC star Gary - a qualified wine connoisseur
- have been wowing food-lovers ever since
opening Chadwicks in 2009.
“We describe the food we offer as
modern British,” adds Helen, whose team
is completed by restaurant manager James
Coles and a staff of 20. “It’s very high quality
food served in the informal surroundings of a
country pub. We’re proud of our awards but
there really is something for everyone here.”