Steve Weaver
Managing Director
Steve has spent 34 years in the industry, initially undertaking an apprenticeship under Catering Olympic Chefs, Bob Smith and Peter Richards at the Grand Hotel, Leicester and subsequently travelling overseas to work in Germany and Bermuda.
Back in the UK, Steve worked in London at the Grosvenor Victoria Hotel and at The Gresham Club in the City of London, followed by a period in Torquay at The Imperial Hotel.
Steve settled in Kent in 1982, with Head Chef positions in Canterbury and Sandwich before opening his first ‘Chives’ restaurant in Westgate on Sea. Seven years later Chives restaurant was incorporated into a new venture at Waltham Court, the Country House Hotel near Canterbury, which specialized in hosting weddings and corporate events. This development gave rise to the birth of the more accurately named Chives the Caterers which was officially formed 1998.
Steve lives locally to the business and still travels widely constantly looking for new ideas and flavours.
Financial and Operations Director
After completing an OND in Hotel & Catering Operations in 1981, Debra moved to Canterbury for her first role in management at the County Hotel (now Abode). After a further two years working as deputy manager at the Bell Hotel in Sandwich she moved to South Kensington to the Onslow Court Hotel and then onto their sister hotel as Financial Controller/Senior Assistant Manager.
In 1985 Debra took a break from the catering world to work in the Advertising industry, eventually to become Management Accountant for a leading marketing firm in Covent Garden.
Following a move back to Kent with her young family in 1995, she was invited to join Steve at Waltham Court, where she helped to develop the events at the hotel allowing Steve to work on the development of the outside catering arm of the business.
Following the sale of Waltham Court in 2004 Debra concentrated on Chives the Caterers working with our corporate and private clients as well as overseeing the financial aspects of the business.
Chef Director
Simon trained at Thanet Technical College for 4 years, completing various courses in Management & Food Production.
During this period Simon honed his skills at several quality establishments in the area, adding valuable restaurant and function organisation experience to his natural ability in the kitchen.
He joined the Chives team 8 years ago as assistant to the previous Chef, who he replaced a year later. Simon has progressed through the business where he now holds the position of Chef/Director
Coming from East Kent, Simon has a great passion for local produce and sources fresh local ingredients wherever he can.
