Rhubarb 2017

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25 ST EDWARD’S r hubarb
1990
James Dawes
(A, 1985-1990) has
recently established
the insurance broking
firm Mallinson Private
Clients (http://www.
He writes: ‘Mallinson Private Clients offer
a personal and highly individual service for
those who demand something out of the
ordinary. Our approach is built around
your individual and unique requirements,
utilising our extensive experience to tailor
fit a policy for your needs. Whether you
have multiple residences, including those
overseas, large collections of valuables
or simply a listed property that requires
understanding, we can accommodate it.
Not only can we cater for the needs of
the wealthy whose wishes sometimes
go beyond the norm, we also provide
expert advice and cover for your individual
requirements, supported by our personal
service. Our only objective is to ensure
that our clients can enjoy and protect the
lifestyles and possessions they’ve worked
so hard to acquire. We see our job as
providing peace of mind by finding the most
efficient and cost effective ways to insure
their possessions.’
2009
DigbyVollrath
(A, 2004-2009)
launched the
company Feast It
(www.feast-
. He
writes: ‘Our
aim was to build a platform designed by
event organisers for event organisers
that will streamline the complicated (and
rather boring) process of booking the
perfect event caterer and, we’ve got to
say, we’re pretty happy with what we’ve
built, hopefully, you agree! Working in
partnership with more than a hundred of
London’s leading street food vendors and
restaurants including Patty & Bun, The
Breakfast Club, Dirty Burger, Blu Top Ice
Cream, Hummus Bros, and The Cheese
Truck, Feast It is a platform enabling
event planners and businesses to discover,
compare and book their ideal caterer for
OSE in Business
any event in a matter of minutes, all on one
site. Outside of a booking platform we also
offer a bespoke curation service for anyone
looking to organise something a little more
complicated or new to event organising
and in need of some hand-holding. We’re
working with everyone from major global
brands, large festivals and small restaurants
looking for their next cool chef residency, if
you’ve got an idea involving street food, we
want to help!’
2004
William Helsby (C, 1999-2004) runs
three venues across Oxford:
The Cowley Retreat (established in 2012),
is bang in the centre of the vibrant Cowley
Road. Known for its friendly and efficient
service. Serves a wide range of cocktails,
wine and beer. Handmade burgers, bagels
and hot dogs. Popular bar in East Oxford
with locals and a huge hit with Oxford
Brookes students. Recently awarded second
place prize in the Great British Pub Awards
for Britain’s ‘Best Student Pub’ category.
The Lighthouse (established in 2014)
provides a unique experience in the city
centre, with premium fresh fruit cocktails,
craft lagers and homemade Pan-Med tapas.
The decor is Victoriana steam punk with
a subtle nautical theme. The adjoining
function room (The Boiler Room) holds
up to 50 guests and provides a cosy and
intimate setting for all types of events.
The bar is at its busiest during Happy Hours,
which run daily from 5-8pm. During this
time all cocktails are 2-4-1.
The Oxford Retreat (established in 2015)
is the company’s newest acquisition, and
recently underwent an extensive renovation
project. Located right next to the train
station in the centre of town, this is the
perfect meet up spot and popular with
young professionals and post-grad Oxford
University students, especially those of the
nearby Saïd Business School. The kitchen
serves traditional homemade pub food.
Fantastic heated beer garden out by the
river, and a private function room that holds
up to 80 guests. Function room ‘The Study’
fully equipped with audio visual equipment
for conferences, presentations and parties.
It has won ‘Best Student Finalist’ in the pub
awards. The Oxford Retreat is not marketed
as a students’ pub and there is a clear desire
to make it a space for everyone, rather than
just the ‘beer and a burger’ student market.
2008
EmilyAusten
(M, 2006-2008)
launched the
PR company
EMERGE in 2012 offering PR solutions to
emerging brands and talent. She writes:
‘As we’ve grown, we have developed into
a fully functional PR and Publicity Agency.
EMERGE works across a number of different
clients, with a range of knowledge from
talent management, events, PR, celebrity
endorsement, media management and
crisis control. Understanding relationships
between these different, interlinked areas,
is at the core of the Emerge offering. We
understand how the industry works, and
how to make the most significant impact for
your brand. Our team of young, enthusiastic,
creative people is based in London. We
have a mixture of skill sets, from ex-agents,
publicists, to in-house and agency PR
specialists, in order to offer a unique 360
degree service. Our contacts span different
industries across the globe. EMERGE is
anchored on Fashion and Lifestyle, but also
works on a variety of campaigns, including
Sony, Wilkinson Sword, Olympus and
Boodles. Each client has different needs and
requires different solutions. We aim to tailor-
make our strategies to the vision the client
has.’ For further information, visit
O S E I
N B U S I
N E S S
The Lighthouse, Oxford