Majority Rules – The Wicked Witch

In the current financial climate, new businesses are something of a rarity but Darren Ferguson is convinced there’s still plenty of people out there willing to spend money on fine food and a good night out. ‘I think it was the right time to do it actually’ he says. ‘Setting up any new business is always a risk but there was definitely a gap for this kind of place. You go to The Olive Branch or The George in Stamford and they’re always full, so people are clearly still spending money on good food. So why not here? We’re not charging extortionate prices either’ (a pan-fried fillet of stone bass with Lincolnshire smoked eel risotto and watercress veloute will cost you £16.50, while handmade linguine with Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, trompettes, and lightly truffled cream costs £12).

‘I’ve been in this business since I was 11 years old. My dad and my uncle had one of the first Italian pizzerias (Antonino’s) in Peterborough’

In the true spirit of democracy that prevails at the Witch, we’re joined at the table by another key member of the team, general manager Dominico D’Angelo, a sharp-dressed Italian who was practically born to the catering trade.

‘I’ve been in this business since I was 11 years old. My dad and my uncle had one of the first Italian pizzerias (Antonino’s) in Peterborough and they taught me the ropes. I’ve worked at Fratelli’s restaurant for the last 15 years as their general manager.’

Darren Ferguson used to take The Posh players to Fratellis on a fairly regular basis ‘because their training ground was nearby’, and D’Angelo’s skills as a front-of-house manager left such an impression that he was the first person who came to mind for the job of running The Wicked Witch. Since none of the four owners have any experience in the catering business, finding a highly motivated and experienced general manager was crucial. ‘I wouldn’t have a clue about the management side of things,’ Nicola admits, ‘so I leave all that to Dom. But if there’s anything outside of that then the four of us will get together and discuss it. Any creative ideas we have we’ll put to the others and see what they think about it. If it’s food-based then obviously we involve the chef, but there’s other things like entertainment that we plan. We have an amazing singer who comes in on a Sunday so people can have Sunday lunch and then just chill out for a few hours listening to some live acoustic music. It works really well.’

The majority rules ideology was even observed in choosing the establishment’s refreshingly different name as Nicola explains.