A word from our Bailli Délégué:

Welcome to the website of the Great Britain Bailliage of La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international society dedicated to the promotion of the culinary and hospitality arts and oenology through example, education and camaraderie.

This website is currently undergoing redevelopment, so please bear with us until this has been completed. Further information about the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs can be found on the International Chaîne website www.chaine-des-rotisseurs.net

La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs was originally established in France in 1248 by Louis IX as the Guild of Goose Roasters. It flourished for over 500 years until the French Revolution, when it was abolished along with all the other guilds. Happily, a modern incarnation of the Chaîne was re-founded in Paris in 1950, and has since gone from strength to strength.

The Chaîne today unites both professional caterers and amateur gastronomes who enjoy good food in general and that cooked on the turning spit and silver grill in particular. There are now over 30,000 members in 123 countries, organised into National and Regional Bailliages.

The Chaîne actively encourages the raising of catering standards and the training of future chefs. Each member country holds annual Commis Rôtisseur competitions, the winners of which go forward to an international final held in one of the member countries. (Istanbul in 2001, Singapore in 2002, Cape Town in 2003, Banff in 2004, Bermuda in 2005 and Adelaide in 2006)

The Bailliage of Grande Bretagne was formed in 1959, and consists of seven Regional Bailliages covering different parts of the UK. Chaîne events are organised at regular intervals wherever the Chaîne has a presence, and members are encouraged to visit events in other bailliages in the UK and across the world.

Membership (both amateur and professional) is by invitation, and members are encouraged to bring guests to one or more of the 6 or so events (Dinners and gastronomic weekends) that each Bailliage holds over the course of a year

Once accepted, new members are “Intronised” at one of the Annual “Chapîtres” which are held in every country. Here they must swear the Chaîne oath to “always honour the art of cuisine and the culture of the table, and to carry out my duties of fraternity and respect for every member of the Chaîne.” They then receive their Chaîne Medallion and ribbon and are formally registered as members of the Chaîne.

Chaîne members are welcomed warmly when visiting the establishments of professional members, wherever they may be in the world. Membership can be transferred from city to city, region to region or country to country.

There are various levels of membership for both professional and non-professional members, which reflect seniority and level of activity within the Chaîne. These different levels are reflected in the different coloured collars and chains that form the Chaîne regalia. The wide variety of combinations of colour can make an impressive sight at a large Chaîne gathering!

Current (2006) membership fees are £75 per year, with a once-off joining fee of £60 payable at the time of joining. This fee covers the cost of the regalia, and membership also includes a subscription to the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs magazine, published by the international head office in Paris.

Chris Lewis