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Simon Haigh and his team celebrate 11 years at the top of the culinary tree
Warwickshire's only Michelin starred restaurant has retained the top international accolade for its food - held only by the world's top chefs.
Mallory Court Hotel in Leamington Spa is amongst a small amount of restaurants in Britain to hold the industry's rarest accolade.
Mallory Court's Michelin star is held by its Head Chef Simon Haigh, making him the finest chef in the Coventry and Warwickshire region.
Staff at Mallory Court waited with bated breath for the famous Michelin guide to be announced on Thursday at 12 noon. A press release confirmed that Simon and his team had yet again achieved star status, prompting celebrations at the hotel in Harbury Lane.
Simon shares this prestigious award with other highly skilled chefs include Heston Blumenthal, Michael Caines and Gordon Ramsay.
“We are delighted” said Simon. “It is testament to the skill and hard work of the whole team that we continue to be recognised for the consistent quality our guests expect. Once you have gained a star, it is much easier to lose it than it is to hold on to it, and it is the most esteemed accolade that a chef can receive. Understandably, this is usually a fairly tense time of year in a lot of kitchens as the Michelin Guide is the benchmark within the industry.”
Since Simon’s arrival at the Leamington Spa hotel in 2000, he has maintained consistently high standards to ensure that Mallory remains one of the best establishments in the region, having held a Michelin Star personally for no less than fifteen years – a remarkable achievement.
Mallory Court is part of the Eden Hotel Collection - a group of hotels privately owned by Sir Peter Rigby, who has appeared in The Times 100 rich list after making his fortune in IT solutions. Mallory Court is a destination for jetsetters from all over the world who fly in to dine at Mallory, landing at the hotel’s helipad.
In addition to running the kitchens at Mallory Court, Simon is also the Director of Food and Beverage for the Eden Hotel Collection which includes The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, Kings in Chipping Campden, Buckland Tout-Saints in Devon and the recently acquired Brockencote Hall in Worcestershire. Simon works with the chefs at all hotels to create menus brimming with imagination and innovation, working to an ethos of sustainability and traceability.