Devon's Celebrity Chefs

Devon has more than its share of celebrity chefs opening restaurants, which is unsurprising, considering Devon's fabulous home-grown food and stunning locations. Our farms and coast produce some of the best produce in the country. It provides everything a professional chef needs to open their own restaurant, so take a look at some of the options for celebrity dining here in Devon. 

Michael Caines

Not only Devon’s most accomplished chef, Michael Caines is always striving to push Devon’s food scene onwards and upwards. He owns the fabulously luxurious country house hotel and restaurant, Lympstone Manor, and also works with The Coach House at Kentisbury Grange. For a time, Michael was at the helm at Gidleigh Park when it gained its first and then second Michelin stars.

Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall

Hugh’s original River Cottage HQ (as seen on TV) is near Axminster in East Devon. It’s a fantastic foodie hub, with a cookery school, events and restaurant, plus there’s a Canteen restaurant in Axminster itself. 

Mitch Tonks

Mitch has great restaurants all over the South West, with a flagship restaurant in Dartmouth. The original Rockfish is a laid-back, family-friendly restaurant which serves beautifully fresh fish and seafood (think ‘fish and chips with bells on’). There are also Rockfish restaurants in Exeter and soon, Sidmouth. 

Chris and James Tanner

The brother’s laid-back Barbican Kitchen is fresh and laid-back, with whitewashed stone walls, wooden floors, funky tunes and brasserie-style food.

Simon Hulstone

Award-winning chef Simon Hulstone regularly represents Great Britain in international cheffing competitions, returning to show off his skills at his Michelin-starred Torquay restaurant, The Elephant.

Mark Doodson

Mark can usually be found cooking at his fabulous, thatched – and Michelin-starred – food pub, The Mason’s Arms at Knowstone, but he also makes appearances at Devon’s many food festivals and events.

Peter Gorton

Master Chef of Great Britain, Peter Gorton made his name at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world before basing himself in the West Country, and is one of the region’s best-known chefs. He now runs cookery masterclasses, and can be seen cooking live at many of Devon’s food festivals.