Daylight Robbery

The Market Hotel in Reigate, London 2002 was an unusual place to work as a Head Chef - only serving food for lunch and not on Sundays.

The manager was a paranoid, egomaniacal type who didn't care about the staff. It was whispered that he had been robbed before, and now carried an alert button around his neck to call the police whenever pressed.

At night, the hotel was like a fortress; no one could leave or enter without setting off the alarm. Since I didn't have access to the alarm codes, this meant I had to stay put in my room, kitchen and toilet facilities, so it felt like a prison.