Shareen Campbell and Phil Saunter, owners of Los Gatos and Bistro Les Chats in Wood Street, and the Swindon Business People of the Year, talk about life in the restaurant business

This month finally sees the completion of the Regent Circus development, a welcome sight after years of chaotic dilapidation at the focal point of our town.

It may take a while for the country to see Swindon as a place to visit rather than mock, but we are on the right road at last… Or are we?

As well as a cinema and supermarket, we have a number of restaurants. To us, a restaurant is a place where kitchen and front of house teams get together to create and produce something wonderful for their customers.

Sadly, some national chains take a different approach. There’s no creativity, only formula and a menu designed by head office.

There’s often no support for local producers and suppliers, only prescribed purchasing from national distributors contracted by head office at the kind of prices which put small farmers out of business.

Here, it’s not the job of the Head Chef to create an enticing seasonal menu and encourage his/her team as they learn to create dishes.

The job is to stick to the national formula and make the food look like the pictures in the advertising.

The restaurant manager’s job is to train the staff in their script, make all the tables look identical and ensure that whether you are in Swindon or Salford your experience is the same.

To develop an independent business takes years of hard slog, growing relationships with local suppliers, investing in staff and improving premises, befriending customers and building your reputation to secure your business. There’s no technical manual for it, it’s a skill which you learn through mistakes and experience.

The reward is giving something real to your community.

Your restaurant has a personality that locals come to know and trust. You take pride in the skills of your chefs. You talk to your customers about food and wine, not just take their money for a meal designed in Head Office. And if you do this here, your customers know where they are and they’re proud to be in Swindon.

Los Gatos can be contacted in 01793 488450 or go to www.losgatos.co.uk.

Bistro Les Chats can be contacted on 01793 527082 or go to www.leschats.co.uk