One cute duckling on mum's back!

The bird (named ‘Vera Duckworth’ by our customers when it arrived at our restaurant a few weeks ago!) has hatched five ducklings at the site after choosing one of the main entrance plant-pots at our Widnes restaurant, situated on the busy Birchfield Road, to build her nest.

After receiving advice from the RSPB on how to help the birds cross the road, our worried Widnes restaurant team had tried to find a local lollipop lady to help escort the ducklings across the traffic-way to the pond.

General Manager Juanma Gabaldo comments: “This is a busy roundabout and we wanted to help these ducklings take their first journey to their pond in as much safety as possible.

The Pesto duckling warning sign!

“Whilst there are a couple of duck signs much further down the road, our sign only needs to be up for a few days whilst the wildfowl make their journey and will help alert drivers to these much smaller (and cuter) obstacles, hopefully preventing a few accidents.”

Keep updated on our Pesto fledglings by visiting our facebook page.

First up this month we have real life guitar hero Joe Satriani at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. Virtuoso Satriani is famous not only for his technically astounding technique and unique tone, but also his famous former pupils, most notably fellow virtuoso Steve Vai and Metallica’s Kirk Hammet!

Tickets for the Satriani show this Sunday are scarce, so act fast if you want to be part of the action! Click here for tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/joe-satriani-glasgow-09-06-2013/event/3600495EB21C2FAF and here for general event information: http://eventful.com/glasgow/events/joe-satriani-/E0-001-052219908-1

Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall is a five minute walk from Pesto St Vincent Street, to make a pre-show reservation call now on 0141 204 0979 or book online: http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/bookings

Heading southeast to Bradford, we have a weeklong event, the Bradford Festival at City Park. This free entry event runs from Monday 10th – Sunday 16th June and will feature appearances from the stars of Strictly Come Dancing and the Bradford Symphony Orchestra. The festival is suitable for all the family and events will run throughout the day. Full event information can be found here: http://www.visitbradford.com/thedms.aspx?dms=13&feature=1011&venue=2198372

City Park is a short drive from Pesto Prune Park, where we can happily accommodate large group bookings of festival-goers. To make a reservation please call the restaurant on: 01274 483 516

Looking westward, we have Pesto fan Debbie Harry with her band Blondie at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Tuesday 18th June.

Long-time Pesto fans might remember our delight when pop legend Ms Harry stopped by Pesto Liverpool One for pre-show dinner and drinks! If you’re heading to the show, why not make a reservation with our Liverpool One team – you never know whom you might see! http://eventful.com/liverpool/events/june

Heading to our other city destinations, we have influential 60’s group the Moody Blues at Sheffield’s City Hall on Friday 14th June. Doors are at 8pm and the show will rock on till 1am. Full show information and tickets information can be found here: http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Sheffield/Sheffield-City-Hall/The-Moody-Blues-2013/11746518

If you’d like to stop into Pesto at the Waggon and Horses Sheffield for a meal before the show, our £7.95 menu runs from 12pm – 7pm Monday – Friday.

Father’s Day is less than a fortnight away, so if you’re panicking over what to get your dear old dad, why not take a trip to the Trafford Centre for a spot of shopping and the Bandstand’s Father’s Day Workshop?

On Saturday 15th June the Bandstand will operate a free Father’s Day workshop where you can make your own personalized Father’s Day cards and keyrings. The event runs from 11am – 5pm and full information can be found here: http://www.intutraffordcentre.co.uk/whatson/fathersdaycards

Perhaps you’d like to treat dad a day early this year and take the workshop together, followed by a family meal at Pesto Trafford Centre. To make a reservation with our team please call the restaurant on: 0161 749 8228

And finally, if you’d rather get away from the hustle and bustle for the day why not dust off your bike and head to Tarporley this Father’s Day for a charity fun run.

Cycling organization Get On Your Bike has organized a fun run at Oulton Park Race Circuit. The run is from 8am – 5pm; entry is £6 and event participation is suitable for all ages. For full information please visit the website: http://www.getonyourbike.org.uk

Oulton Park Race Circuit is just a 10 minute cycle from Pesto at the Cabbage Hall, Tarporley. If you’d like to make a table reservation please call the restaurant on: 01829 760292.

If you’d like to extend your time away from home why not book a room or suite at our AA four star accredited Pesto at the Dibbinsdale Inn? To make a reservation please call: 0151 334 9818, email: reservations@pestoatthedibbinsdaleinn.co.uk or book online at: http://www.pestoatthedibbinsdaleinn.co.uk/reservations

First up for Fathers Day we head to the Ring Canal in Cheshire. The Cheshire Ring Canal is a circular canal route spanning from Manchester to Kidsgrove, and flows through areas of outstanding natural beauty. In addition to the extensive rural scenery, there are numerous points of architectural interest along the route. Renting a canal boat for the day is an inexpensive and relaxing day out for the whole family.

But if your Dad isn’t a fan of sailing and would prefer to spend time teeing off, Bromborough Golf Course, colloquially known as ‘Wirral’s Parkland Jewel’, is located in the leafy Dibbinsdale area. If you really want to treat your dad why not arrange a team game of golf and an overnight stay at Pesto at the Dibbinsdale Inn?

In addition to our original piattini menu, Pesto at the Dibbinsdale Inn and all our other Pesto in a Pub sites, offer a selection of real ales on tap – a great way to round off a relaxing Sunday.

Moving away from the countryside towards the cities of Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Sheffield, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Why not take your Dad to see the latest instalment in the Superman franchise ‘Man of Steel’? The hotly anticipated superhero movie is set for release on Friday 14th June – just in time for Fathers Day.

If you’d like to make a Fathers Day reservation please call your favourite Pesto and a manager will be delighted to help you plan the perfect Fathers Day meal.

If you’d like to keep up with all the latest Pesto Restaurant developments you can follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pestorestaurant: and Facebook:http://facebook.com/pestorestaurants

The training will help both Pesto teams to help look after their hearing-impaired diners even better.

Statistics from the UK Council of Deafness show that a staggering one in six people in the UK suffer from a hearing loss, equating to 200,000 across the Greater Glasgow area and 90,000 across Cheshire.

Over five million people also say that their deafness has meant that they have experienced difficulties accessing goods and services, making activities like dining out difficult.

The Pesto Restaurant Glasgow team underwent the training by volunteers from local Glasgow charity Deaf Connections.

The training provided tips on how to lip-read, understand more effectively as well as learning some key sign language phrases.

Mary-Julie MacNally of charity Deaf Connections said: “Many businesses don’t understand just how many people suffer from a hearing loss.

“This can make people feel excluded from society resulting in a lack of confidence and can even lead to depression.”

Deafness Awareness Week, from 6-12 May, is co-ordinated by the UK Council on Deafness to help raise awareness nationwide. The aim is to get people to think about how they can positively impact the lives of deaf people in their region.

Pesto Restaurant Glasgow General Manager Francis Carr said: “Eating out should be a completely enjoyable experience and if this can help make even one person’s evening out more relaxed, then this training is worth it.”

Charity Deafness Support Network ran the training at Pesto Cabbage Hall in Tarporley giving staff plenty of information, including how to help restaurant-goers that visit with working hearing dogs.

Gill Reeder of Deafness Support Network added: “Even a small amount of training can help businesses become more deaf aware and become more inclusive. In fact we know that over 70% of hearing aid users said that having deaf aware staff would encourage them to choose one business over another. So not only is it better for everyone – but it’s also good for business!”

More information on Deafness Awareness week can be found here: http://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw

Diane Edwards celebrating at Pesto Widnes

We love a good party at Pesto, and none could be better than a team celebration as Pesto co-owner Sara Edwards‘ mum, Diane, chose our Widnes restaurant for her ‘Second Retirement’ celebrations last week.

Despite retiring in 2004 after working 28 years as a practise nurse, Diane continued to work in health clinics around Merseyside and officially marked her second retirement this month.

26 guests including friends, colleagues and previous workmates, travelled from as far as Formby and Birkdale to enjoy a drinks reception followed by the two course ‘Festa’ party menu to celebrate Diane’s fantastic achievement.

Diane, who now hopes to travel more following her retirement, said: “This was a very special event as I was able to mark the occasion with my close friends and colleagues together – some of whom I’ve known for over 50 years!”

The event held in the Orangery, was a resounding success. In the words of one guest: “Great company, food, venue and wine!”. Happy retirement Diane from all at Pesto!

If you’re planning a special event please don’t hesitate to contact your favourite Pesto’s friendly and helpful management team who will be delighted to assist you in arranging the perfect bespoke party. For full contact information click here: http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/contact/

Pesto Restaurant Glasgow GM Francis Carr

Staff at Pesto Italian Restaurant Glasgow are celebrating after winning a finalist place at the Scottish Entertainment Guide Awards for two consecutive years.

Pesto restaurant Glasgow, which opened in September 2011, came second in the 2013 award for Scotland’s Favourite Mediterranean Restaurant.

This came just one year after the Glasgow restaurant won runner up in the coveted Best New Restaurant category just six months after opening.

The awards highlight the best restaurants across the whole of Scotland, with entrants nominated by public vote.

A panel of independent judges chose this year’s winners and finalists from the 5,000 businesses across the country that participated.

Pesto Restaurant Glasgow General Manager Francis Carr said: “To win the accolade of second place in these prestigious awards two years running is fantastic – and made even more special as our customers voted for us.

“Although we only missed out on the top prize by two points, the team are already looking forward to next year’s event where hopefully we’ll scoop first place.”

Public voting for the 2014 Scottish Entertainment Guide Awards opens September 2013. If you’ve visited Pesto Restaurant Glasgow and want to see the team scoop first place at the 2014 awards, keep an eye on the Pesto blog for updates on when voting officially opens!

If you’d like to keep up with the latest developments at all of our restaurants, including upcoming Pesto openings, you can follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pestorestaurant or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pestorestaurants

The opening of the newly refurbished the Axe and Compass Wolvey pub will create 30 new jobs for the local area.

The pub has been closed for almost two years, but has had its future secured thanks to a £450,000 joint investment from Pesto Restaurants and Punch Taverns.

The historic building situated in stunning countryside on the outskirts of Wolvey is currently undergoing a refurbishment to transform it into the first Pesto Restaurant in Warwickshire.

Pesto Co-owner Sara Edwards said: “We are incredibly excited about becoming a key part of the local community and introducing the people of Warwickshire to our unique ‘piattini’ dining concept.”

As with the other Pesto in a Pub sites, Pesto at the Axe and Compass will offer original Italian dining combined with open fires, real ales and a relaxed environment in a rural setting.

Sara added: “With the opening of another Pesto in a Pub site these are incredibly exciting times for us as a company.

“We are looking for staff members at all levels to join the Pesto team at the Axe and Compass Wolvey and would encourage anyone interested to contact us.”

If you’d like to become part of the Pesto Axe and Compass Wolvey team please email your CV to careers@pestorestaurants.co.uk stating which position you’re interested in and why you’d love to work for Pesto.

Earlier this year Pesto opened its first pub in Sheffield, Pesto at the Waggon and Horses. Read all about it here: http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/april-opening-for-the-waggon-and-horses-sheffield/

To keep up-to-date with the latest developments at Pesto at the Axe and Compass Wolvey you can follow us on Twitter or Facebook: http://www.twitter.com/pestorestaurant and http://www.facebook.com/pestorestaurants

Click here to find your local Pesto Italian Restaurant: http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/location/

The brooding bird has chosen one of the Widnes restaurant main entrance plantpots for her nest and has already laid three eggs so far in the spot.

With the restaurant team seeking advice from the RSPB to help safeguard the bird’s future helping the duck be disturbed as little as possible, customers and staff alike are looking forward to seeing the ‘Pesto Poultry’ family grow.

Widnes restaurant General Manager Juanma Gabaldo said: “When we first saw the nest we thought the duck must be ‘quackers’ to set up home in a small plantpot when the park is just over the road. It’s obvious that she felt the spot at our Widnes restaurant fitted the bill for their growing brood!

“We’re all really looking forward to seeing our brood of feathered friends grow up right on our doorstep and will be giving each of our Pesto ducklings Italian names!”

After a naming competition on our Facebook page, the duck has been aptly named Vera Duckworth. We managed to capture a short video of Vera enjoying the sunshine yesterday, you can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI-nikeUpL4

Bizarrely, this isn’t the first time a family of birds have decided to set up home on the Pesto premises, not so long ago two little birds set up camp under one of our outdoor restaurant tables, you can read all about it here: http://www.pestorestaurants.co.uk/two-new-additions-to-the-pesto-italian-restaurant-team/

If you’ve found a bird in your home and are looking for advice on what action to take, check out the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/‎

Pesto at the Dibbinsdale Inn, which was officially opened by the Mayor of Wirral Councillor Gerry Ellis in March, was awarded the 4 Gold star accreditation following a mystery inspection in April.

The inn and restaurant on Dibbinsdale Road have been popular with locals after bringing Pesto’s trademark ‘piattini’ style to the Wirral.

The report, which evaluated the dining offering as well as the accommodation standards of the twelve room inn, also saw the restaurant win a special Dinner award which highlighted the food as “most enjoyable”.

Pesto Dibbinsdale General manager Nick Daws said: “We’re delighted that the hard work of the team in creating this stunning restaurant and inn that offers great food has paid off with this recognition by the AA.”

Pesto at the Dibbinsdale Inn opened in November following an extensive and lavish refurbishment and created over thirty new jobs in the local area. The AA spokesman applauded the “high standard” of the transformation of the building which gives “thought and care to the guest and experience”.

Nick added: “Since opening our doors just six months ago we’re already getting a loyal customer base and with our 4* rating we are now looking forward to welcoming even more people to Pesto at the Dibbinsdale.”

To indulge in a little four-star treatment call 0151 3349818 to make a reservation or book online: http://www.pestoatthedibbinsdaleinn.co.uk

After a short time away, we are delighted to announce that Pesto’s Picks is now back, bringing you then best of what’s on in your area!

Over the last few months we’ve been working hard launching the newest member of the Pesto family, Pesto at the Waggon and Horses Sheffield.

Following a very successful opening we’ve spent some time in Sheffield and have shortlisted the best of what this iconic city has to offer.

First up we have troll-featured funnyman Bill Bailey at Sheffield City Hall on the 6th and 7th of May. Bill Bailey is one of the nation’s most unique comedians and his latest show, Qualimpeddler is not to be missed. Why should you go? Three words; Dubstep Downton Abbey. Tickets are a very reasonable £25 and doors are at 7pm – http://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/events/Bill-Bailey-2013

Up next for Sheffield is the Liquid Gold Charity Night at Sheffield City Hall on May 2nd. This night showcases the best of Sheffield’s up-and-coming musical talent and it’s all for a good cause! Tickets are only £5 and doors open at 7pm – http://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/events/Liquid-Gold

Heading east toward Wilsden we have the amazing Derren Brown at Alhambra Theatre in Bradford centre. The lottery-predicting hypnotist will be at the Alhambra for five nights from May 27th – June 1st, tickets range from £32.50 – £38.00 and doors are at 8pm.

Steering westward toward Cheshire, Wirral and Liverpool, for those of you who are keen golfers we have Open Events at Bromnorough Golf Club on May 27th. Open events mean you and your friends can head to the course to play as a team without the requirement for a membership, hurrah! http://www.bromboroughgolfclub.org.uk/open_events_2013/

Bromborough Golf Club is very close to the AA four-star accredited Pesto at the Dibbinsdale Inn, where you can make a real weekend of it by booking accommodation with breakfast, dinner and drinks for you and your team-mates – click here to make a reservation now!

Also in Liverpool and Manchester in May we have former X-Factor Queen Leona Lewis performing at the Manchester Apollo and Liverpool Echo Arena on the 14th and 15th May respectively. The Liverpool Echo Arena is only a short walk from Pesto Liverpool One, Paradise Street, ideal for pre-concert dinner and drinks.

Last years UK Eurovision representative Engelbert Humperdinck will be performing at the SECC on May 8th, a mere 10 days before this years Eurovision Song Contest. This year the UK is once again represented by one of our nation’s greatest musical exports, Bonnie Tyler. This might just be our year…

Tickets for the all-singing, all-dancing tangerine Humperdinck show are a very reasonable £37.50. http://www.secc.co.uk