Chair of the Board of Directors

Paul Heathcote was announced as new Chair of the Board of Directors of Marketing Lancashire on Wednesday 9 May, 2012. (Press Release)

Paul Heathcote, MBE – biography

His career has spanned stints in Switzerland, Sharrow Bay Hotel, Ullswater, The Connaught in Mayfair, London and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.

At the age of 29 he opened his eponymous restaurant in Longridge, Preston.  Within two years he had been awarded his first Michelin and Egon Ronay stars along with The Good Food Guide’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’.   Within a week of the restaurant’s second anniversary, he was nominated ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in the Catey Awards.  In the same year Charles Heidsieck Champagne Guide voted Paul Heathcotes as ‘one of the best restaurants in the world’.

The 1994 Egon Ronay Guide awarded Paul ‘Chef of the Year’ and Michelin gave him a second star, an accolade bestowed on eight restaurants in the UK, Heathcotes still being the only one in the North West and a second Catey Award in 1997 for Independent Restaurateur of the Year.

Paul has 3 restaurants: The Longridge Restaurant, his original Olive Press Preston (serving Italian grills, pizza & pasta), and the recently opened Heathcotes Brasserie (consisting of French & British cuisine).

Paul has been awarded three Honorary Fellowships from Liverpool John Moores University, Lancashire University & Bolton University in recognition of his achievements in catering.

Paul has published two cookbooks, Rhubarb & Blackpudding and Heathcotes at Home, writes columns to a number of regional newspapers and magazines and also appears regularly on UKTV Food’s flagship program, Market Kitchen.

Paul chairs the North’s Academy of Culinary Arts, Adopt-a-School, encouraging the traditions of his profession and is also a fundraiser for Childline & the NSPCC as well as Fashion Kicks. 

In 2009 he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to the Hospitality Industry.