Celebrity chef restaurants
The South West is awash with renowned headline chefs. From household names to those on the cusp of stardom, here’s our curation of celebrity chef restaurants where you can experience a wow-factor meal
Elly Wentworth, The Angel of Dartmouth
Elly cut her TV-personality teeth on MasterChef: The Professionals, a competition in which she was a finalist in 2016 and more recently, she appeared on Great British Menu earlier this year.
Under Elly’s leadership, The Angel has really flourished, consistently picking up gongs and gaining national attention for her team’s exquisite dishes made from locally-sourced, sustainable and fresh ingredients. This year, as the minimum two-course order has been scrapped to make the restaurant more accessible, an even greater audience can appreciate dishes such as Brixham crab risotto with preserved lemon or Devonshire lamb with asparagus and spring pea, while dessert lovers can fall at the feet of clotted cream parfait and salted caramel tart.
Earlier this year, Elly released her debut book, Homage to Joyce Molyneux (the groundbreaking Michelin-starred chef), with a collection of recipes which have all graced the menu at some point in The Angel’s history. It’s no wonder Elly is another strong finalist for Chef of the Year in the Food Lifestyle Awards 2024.
Mark Hix MBE, The Oyster & Fish House
Author, columnist, chef and restaurateur Mark Hix has a flagship restaurant with jaw-dropping views of Lyme Regis harbour and the expanse of water beyond. It’s a beloved location among locals and tourists alike, and not just for the views; the fish couldn’t be fresher as it’s bought directly off the boat while the menu is all about simplicity – quality local produce cooked simply but brilliantly.
Pop into The Oyster & Fish House for a chilled glass and the famous cockle popcorn, or linger longer and feast on the sumptuous mixed grilled fish platter to share. There’s a dose of humour on the menu too – check out the credit crunch ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. Perhaps the feather in the cap of this high-up seafood hub, however, is the ever-popular calendar of Mark’s Kitchen Table events at his Charmouth home. Secure tickets to one of the bespoke dining experiences or gather together eight foodie chums and push the boat out with a private booking.
Ayesha Kalaji, Queen of Cups
Ayesha’s rise to stardom is on a steep incline. Her appearance on MasterChef: The Professionals last year followed her Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2021 for her solo venture in the heart of Glastonbury, Queen of Cups.
Housed in a 17th-century coaching inn, Queen of Cups is where the Leiths graduate shares her flair for Middle Eastern cooking, drawing on her Jordanian heritage, French training and Welsh upbringing. Her dishes dazzle with bold flavours and bright colours, all of which she crafts with local and seasonal ingredients. Most of the fruit and veg comes from within five miles of the restaurant while the wines are adventurous rather than over-ordered classics. Speaking of which, don’t be afraid to over order on the food, in true 2024 style, the team has a stash of biodegradable containers for doggy bags.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, River Cottage
One of the most famous cottages in the country has an equally prominent owner, farm-to-fork champion, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Since Escape to River Cottage first aired in 1999, Hugh has become a household TV name while the River Cottage estate has been transformed to a visitor-friendly hub dedicated to good food made well.
In addition to the cookery school and artisanal courses, there’s a plethora of dining options at River Cottage. Visitors can head to relaxed cafe Kitchen & Store – found at the top of the lane that eventually winds down to the main cottage – to tuck into produce-led dishes from a seasonal all-day menu, however we’d recommend pre-booking one of the dining events hosted in the beautiful threshing barn for an elevated culinary adventure that best captures the River Cottage experience.
Events include the Long Table Lunch (a family-friendly communal dining experience), Long Table Feast (a seven-course tasting menu prepared by head chef Connor Reed and team) and the Chef’s Table Experience (an intimate and creative dining experience that embodies the cottage’s Food to Inspire Change motto by immersing guests in the plot-to-plate style of cooking).
Despite his busy schedule, Hugh is heavily involved at River Cottage (his Seasonal Feasts are particularly popular) although most of the cooking is led by talented head chef Connor Reed, a finalist for Chef of the Year in this year’s 2024 Food Lifestyle Awards.
Paul Ainsworth, Paul Ainsworth At No6
A Michelin-starred chef, serial cookbook author and TV favourite – notching up plenty of stints on cookery shows from Saturday Kitchen Live to Great British Menu (on which he was winner, don’t you know) – we’re not sure which is more famous, Paul’s trademark grin or his eponymous restaurant, which gained its first Michelin star in 2013.
Paul is a prolific feeder, from his beach club to pub and boutique hotel – all in Cornwall – they commonly feature Paul’s trademark attention to detail when it comes to flavours that demand attention. At No6, the townhouse in the heart of Padstow, Paul and his team can be seen at the pass, serving up the likes of hay-aged pigeon with black cardamom or hand-dived scallop with Iberian ham mousseline. For those who enjoy top-drawer dining with a masterclass in mesmerising ingredient combinations, a trip to No6 should be right at the top of the bucket list.
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