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Tim Squires: Owner & Manager of Spitting Feathers Bar

The perfect place to wait while the afternoon ski queues die down in Bellecote

featured in Meet the locals Author Ellie Mahoney, La Plagne Editor Updated

We all like an après ski drink or three to wind down after a long day on the mountain, whether you prefer dancing on tables to a live band, warming your hands on a nice vin chaud in front of the fire, sipping cocktails in a hotel bar or just chewing over the day's skiing or boarding with a nice cold pint - La Plagne has it all.

The Spitting Feathers Ski Bar in Bellecote has become a bit of an institution for British skiers and seasonnaires over the last few years, and owner Tim Squires tells us a bit more about how it all began and how things have changed in the past 20 or so years.

Tell us a little bit about your business, how it started out and where you're based etc...

The Spitting Feathers was created in 2007 at Plagne Bellecote by transforming a ski hire shop into one of La Plagne's most popular and busiest bars.

How long have you been in your current role and how long have you been with the company?

I have been with Spitting Feathers since the start (after all I built the place) and this winter will be celebrating my 23rd ski season, 20 of which have been spent in La Plagne.

After spending 20 years in La Plagne, how would you say the resort has changed?

In the twenty years I have been here, the resort has change beyond recognition with the most changes happening in the last ten years as skiing has become more popular and affordable(?). The lift system in La Plagne has seen a major re-vamp but the biggest change surely is the creation of the PARADISKI area (the linking of Les Arcs to La Plagne) which is as good as any where to ski. Also, when I started off it was mainly apartments everywhere but now there are loads of chalets and hotels. It really has been brought up to spec and is a resort to rival many.

What makes La Plagne a special place to be for someone in your profession?

It's a great, massively under-rated resort, with a super snow sure ski area (Paradiski) and the people who work and holiday there are so down to earth, unlike some of the other resorts in the Savoie region.

What are the best bits & the worst about your job?

The best bits are meeting people of different ages and nationalities and hey, all my customers are happy because they're on holiday! The worst bits are the ski bores and of course the end of the season...

What is in store for the future with your business, any exciting projects in the pipelines that you can share with us?

We are starting to think about the possibility of making the bar bigger and for the immediate future, this winter, we have the return of fish and chips on a Friday night which was a great success the last time we did it some two years ago. Also, the Ski Club of GB has chosen us as their new venue for their office hour this winter [where you can go to chat to their rep - every day from 6pm to 7pm except Saturdays].

What's your favourite piste or off-piste area & top tip to go skiing?

The best place to go skiing in La Plagne is at the glacier and the Face Nord, which is surely one of the best off piste areas in Europe. On bad weather days, try skiing through the trees at Montchavin and Montalbert, and my top tip during peak holiday weeks is to avoid Plagne Bellecote during late afternoons as the queues are horrendous, which on a positive note gives you the perfect incentive to pop into to the Feathers for a few whilst the queues die down!

Where would send someone who was after that something 'something special' in resort, to stay, eat or drink?

The Carlina Hotel in Belle Plagne for accommodation and meals and of course the Spitting Feathers for an apero, après ski, late night session or just to watch your favourite footy team play on the big screens.

Where's your favourite place to go for lunch or dinner?

It has to be Les Borseliers at Champagny during the day. They've got good food, it's great value and there's always someone down there you know. I don’t go out at nights as I am always working at the bar

Do you remember your first trip to La Plagne?

Yeah, I went for a day’s skiing and ended up pot washing in a restaurant, then started a ski company, then created a bar and am still in resort 23yrs on...

What's your favourite thing to do in resort when not skiing or snowboarding?

Working and catching up on sleep.

What do you do in the summer?

Chilling out at home.

Where are we most likely to find you for après-ski?!

The Spitting Feathers of course. “A beer please sweetheart, I’m Spitting Feathers!”

So if you fancy dropping in to say hi to Tim and having a few beers, Spitting Feathers will be open from 13th December 2013 until 26th April 2014 when the resort closes. We'll drink to that! Santé!

Location

Map of the surrounding area