Lancashire Dining Dynasties

Chefs, restaurateurs and food producers were honoured at this year’s prestigious Lancashire Life Food & Drink Awards.

- Emma Mayoh

‘WHEN I was stood knee deep in mud, in the middle of a building site two years ago, I never thought we’d ever be at this point,’ admitted Mark Birchall, head chef at the much lauded Moor Hall in Aughton. ‘It’s been quite a start for us. It’s only been seven months – it feels more like seven years – but we’ve already achieved so much.’

The former L’Enclume chef rather downplayed the success he and his team have had. But the trauma and tension of bringing the beautiful building back to life has paid off. Despite being open a matter of months, Mark got the news some chefs wait years to hear – Moor Hall had been awarded a Michelin star.

‘It’s been an amazing time for us, we were absolutely elated when we found out,’ said Mark, also a Roux scholarship recipient. ‘I never really thought they would even consider us because we had only been open a really short time.

‘These first months have been really tough but it has been worth it – so great to see it finally open after so much work to get there. We’re about to open our more casual restaurant so there is no rest for us, but it’s all good.’

It was the icing on the cake when, less than a month after the Michelin announcement, the Moor Hall team were awarded the Lancashire Life Restaurant of the Year Award. It’s an award that was important for the Chorley born chef. He was commended for his menus with each dish being ‘a work of precision, flavours and textures.’

‘It’s just brilliant news,’ said Mark. ‘I’ve come back to my roots and to win an award that’s important locally like this one means a lot. It’s just fantastic.