Experience

LateRooms.com

• United Kingdom
• Hotels and Motels
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Content Writer

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  I work on a freelance basis for this travel company and its many affiliate sites which specialises in holiday cottages, lodges and apartments. Taking on an average of five briefs per week, I draft SEO led copy to their prescribed format using Google Docs, Semrush and image resources such as Shutterstock and Pics.io. I work on a freelance basis for this travel company and its many affiliate sites which specialises in holiday cottages, lodges and apartments. Taking on an average of five briefs per week, I draft SEO led copy to their prescribed format using Google Docs, Semrush and image resources such as Shutterstock and Pics.io.



Freelance, self-employed

• Manchester Area, United Kingdom

• Content Specialist

  • Dec 2020 - Present

  After a number of years spent growing the Confidentials brand; managing websites and looking after teams of writers and content creators, I have decided to seek new opportunities within the food, drink and travel sectors. After a number of years spent growing the Confidentials brand; managing websites and looking after teams of writers and content creators, I have decided to seek new opportunities within the food, drink and travel sectors.



About Manchester

• United Kingdom
• Newspaper Publishing

• Freelance Features Writer

  • Oct 2022 - Jul 2023

  Writing features, opinion pieces, interviews, reviews and rounds ups on food, drink, lifestyle and travel for this local digital publication. Writing features, opinion pieces, interviews, reviews and rounds ups on food, drink, lifestyle and travel for this local digital publication.



Taste of Manchester

• United Kingdom
• Media Production

• Editor

  • Apr 2021 - Oct 2022

  part time editor of Taste of Manchester, a local online publication. The role involved: - planning and managing rolling content to engage and grow the readership - writing editorial features, images and social media content celebrating and supporting Manchester’s food and drink scene - composing and scheduling the weekly newsletters - client advertorials - monitoring Analytics. part time editor of Taste of Manchester, a local online publication. The role involved: - planning and managing rolling content to engage and grow the readership - writing editorial features, images and social media content celebrating and supporting Manchester’s food and drink scene - composing and scheduling the weekly newsletters - client advertorials - monitoring Analytics.



The Confidentials

• United Kingdom
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Editor

  • Sep 2019 - Dec 2020

• Regional food and drink editor The Confidentials (Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool)

  • Oct 2018 - Dec 2020

  The Confidentials is an online magazine based in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. We cover independent food and drink stories across the region as well as travel, news, events, history, architecture and some current affairs.We inform, irritate, educate and entertain.See https://confidentials.com/ and choose a city. Also see our Top 100 North West restaurant guide https://confidentialguides.com/



Confidentials

• United Kingdom
• Hospitality
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Editor

  • May 2019 - Dec 2020

• Restaurant Reviewer and Staff Writer

  • Apr 2016 - Dec 2020

  I regularly visit and review restaurants in the North West for Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds Confidentials in keeping with the company ethos "All scored reviews are unannounced, impartial, paid for by Confidential and completely independent of any commercial relationship. Venues are rated against the best examples of their type".My job is to keep up to date with North West restaurant, chef and general hospitality news and write reviews, features and content in an engaging informative style.I regularly interview chefs and restaurateurs for features. In the past these have included Raymond Blanc, Dan Doherty, Ed Baines, Tom Kerridge and Adam Reid. Show less



Self-employed

• Manchester, United Kingdom

• Freelance Writer

  • Jan 2016 - Dec 2020

  I work for Manchester Confidential four days per week and am able to accept other writing and reviewing on a freelance basis (as long as the publication is not in direct competition with ManCon) Happy to accept commissions from national magazines and newspapers, in-flight or in-house company magazines. Food, local produce, recipes and restaurants a specialism. PR friendly - please email deannafthomas@gmail.com I work for Manchester Confidential four days per week and am able to accept other writing and reviewing on a freelance basis (as long as the publication is not in direct competition with ManCon) Happy to accept commissions from national magazines and newspapers, in-flight or in-house company magazines. Food, local produce, recipes and restaurants a specialism. PR friendly - please email deannafthomas@gmail.com



Tangerine

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Consumer Copy Writer

  • Feb 2015 - Jul 2015



Made In Cheshire and Restaurant Association of Chester and Cheshire

• Cheshire

• Manager and network co-ordinator

  • Jan 2013 - Jan 2015

  Made in Cheshire, in association with Taste Cheshire, represents the official network of regional food and drink producers. The Restaurant Association of Chester and Cheshire is a group that represents the best restaurants, bars and cafes in the area. I have been asked to increase membership of both associations and ensure that members benefit from an increase in business through promotion and network support services. For further details, please email deanna@scwirrel.com Made in Cheshire, in association with Taste Cheshire, represents the official network of regional food and drink producers. The Restaurant Association of Chester and Cheshire is a group that represents the best restaurants, bars and cafes in the area. I have been asked to increase membership of both associations and ensure that members benefit from an increase in business through promotion and network support services. For further details, please email deanna@scwirrel.com



Freelance

• Freelance

• Social media account manager, blogger and copy writer

  • Mar 2011 - Jan 2015

  July 2011 – Employed to take over social media accounts and write blog updates for North Star Deli supper club @JoinUs4Supper to publicise the event, sell tickets and increase the deli’s public perception of it as an evening venue. July 2011 – Taken on by North West Food Tourism @NW_tastes_ACE on a freelance basis to update their blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as interviewing small local business to see how they qualify for various award schemes. Nov - 2011 Employed by Great British Chefs website as 'Northern blogger' to generate content for their website http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/ INTERESTS AND ABILITIES [food and catering] 1. Discerning and sensitive palate. I have a ‘foodographic’ memory. 2. Continually updated knowledge of national food producers, chefs and restaurants 3. Ability to teach cooking and conduct food demonstrations to groups. I am not nervous in front of large groups or cameras. Good Communicator. 4. Expert in Social Media. I follow many chefs, bloggers, restaurants and food media people on Twitter, meaning I am always aware of current trends, openings, products and events. I have a potential reach of about 10,000 followers from various food related Twitter accounts. Show less



Foodlink Northwest

• Cheshire

• Cheshire Area Co-ordinator

  • Feb 2012 - Mar 2013

  Manage social media accounts, generate content for the Cheshire area of the Foodlink website and to organise or report local events that promote the counties food and drink produce. Manage social media accounts, generate content for the Cheshire area of the Foodlink website and to organise or report local events that promote the counties food and drink produce.



Marketing Manchester

• United Kingdom
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Judge for the Manchester Tourism Awards 2012

  • Oct 2012 - Nov 2012

  I was invited by Marketing Manchester to become a member of the judging panel for the Manchester Tourism Awards. I was asked to research those short-listed and present my assessment to the rest of the judging panel so we could choose the winner of the 'Restaurant of the Year' category. I was invited by Marketing Manchester to become a member of the judging panel for the Manchester Tourism Awards. I was asked to research those short-listed and present my assessment to the rest of the judging panel so we could choose the winner of the 'Restaurant of the Year' category.



Manchester Central

• United Kingdom
• Events Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Freelance consultant and menu editor

  • Jul 2012 - Aug 2012

  I was asked to edit their range of menus and banqueting packages so that they could, more effectively, communicate the range of top quality food they are able to offer international clients. I was asked to edit their range of menus and banqueting packages so that they could, more effectively, communicate the range of top quality food they are able to offer international clients.



Visit Manchester

• Leisure, Travel & Tourism
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Social media @GreaterMcrEats and content creator for Visit Manchester/food

  • Feb 2012 - Aug 2012

  Generate copy and set up social media account for Greater Manchester's Food Connect programme, funded by RDPE. To promote rural food output, champion local produce and link them to restaurants and consumers. I have built a valuable network of local food & drink producers and buyers (chefs, caters etc) I co-ordinated a 'meet the buyer' event achieving press coverage for all involved. I produced 'A year in Manchester' recipe booklet, featuring 12 recipes linking high profile restaurants with local producers within Gtr Mcr. Over 1000 copies were ordered online the first weekend it was published, surpassing expectations for demand. Show less



2003 - 2010 North Star Delicatessen

• Founding Director and Chef

  • Jan 2003 - Aug 2010

  2005 - 2006: Was asked to discuss and demonstrate 'Healthy Eating' to groups of primary school children at Barton Clough Primary School, Stretford over the school year. 2010 - Chosen as one of the judges for NW Food Awards. Had to taste samples of over 400 products from a wide variety of North West food producers and help choose the winners of this prestigious local award. 2010 - One of my recipes won a competition run by Chilean wine brand Casillero del Diablo. The prize was a four star hotel stay in London plus an evening at L'Atelier des Chefs cookery school. The resulting blog I wrote appears on their website and I have since been invited to attend other local events hosted by this wine company. Feb 2011 - Hosted Guestrant, Guest chef night at Elektrik bar in Chorlton, successfully creating and cooking a 3 course meal for over 40 guests. This was blogged by many of the guests and it has lead to me starting up a monthly 'pop-up' at North Star as well as organising wine/food matching events for private clients. June 2011 - Performed live cookery demo in 'Food Live' theatre at The Cheshire County Show after my 'Cheshire Breakfast Salad' recipe won a 'Robert's Bakery' recipe competition. I am looking for more live demo work as well as recipe development to be used in marketing material for local food producers. July 2011 - write menus and cook for North Star monthly, 30 seat supper club @Joinus4Supper Show less



Nutter's Restaurant

• Norden, Rochdale

• Chef

  • Jan 1995 - Jan 1998

  Chef de Partie and Pastry Chef for award winning chef Andrew Nutter Chef de Partie and Pastry Chef for award winning chef Andrew Nutter