New head chef arrives at the pass to delight foodies at historic mansion and wedding venue
A CHEF whose travels have taken him from the Houses of Parliament to the Michelin-starred lights of London has landed at one of the UK’s most historic mansion houses.
Colin Smith has been named as the new head chef at Samlesbury Hall in Lancashire - where he is on a mission to transform the food offering into the best the county has to offer.
Along with his team, he is developing a menu bursting with dishes created from locally sourced ingredients - and capped off with homemade cakes, pastries, and desserts.
Colin, who has spent the last 23 years working in kitchens across the UK, said: “What became immediately apparent to me is that there is a great team here who are really switched on and keen to take the food offering at Samlesbury hall to the next level.
“Our aims are really clear. We want to become the premier venue for weddings and events in Lancashire, if not the North West, and for lunches and casual diners we strive to be the best in the county.
“There is a real focus from our end on using as much locally-sourced produce as possible in every dish, including eggs laid by our very own free-range hens. These are exciting times; we have a shared vision and plenty of energy to deliver it.
Colin started his career working in the kitchens of the Houses of Parliament, before moving on to London’s oldest French restaurant, L’escargot, which at the time held a Michelin Star.
Soon after the turn of the Millennium, a move closer to his native Preston saw Colin start to work at AA Rosette-winning Shaw Hill Golf Club and Resort near Chorley, before another move to Preston North End Football Club, where for eight years he worked as head chef.
The sporting theme continued in 2017 when he took up a similar position at Warrington Wolves, before joining the team at Samlesbury Hall in September.
A time-served pastry chef before ascending to the role of head chef in his previous places of work, it is fair to say Colin has a sweet tooth.
Along with his team, he is ploughing time and energy into new home-baked treats, along with the creation of traditional sweets, many of which will feature in a revamped afternoon tea.
An old favourite is also set to make a return to the wider dining menu in the restaurant - in the shape of Sunday lunch.
Colin said: “It will be one of the finest Sunday lunches for miles. There’s not a great deal available in the area, so we are expecting this to be very popular when it is launched this month.
“Making sure that diners - whether they are wedding or function guests, day-trippers or people treating themselves to a stay at The Hamlet - have the very best experience is absolutely what I and the team are about.”
When he’s not in the kitchen, Colin is busy with his three children and partner Sally. In rare moments of downtime, he enjoys a meal out: It’s good to keep in touch with the opposition,” he joked.
ENDS
Editor’s notes
Samlesbury Hall is a magnificent, half-timbered black and white medieval house built in 1325 as a family home. The Hall is beautifully maintained for the enjoyment of today's visitors and sits just five minutes east of junction 31 of the M6.
The current building and grounds are administered by a registered charity known as the Samlesbury Hall Trust (Charity number 526052), whose aim is to preserve the Hall for the people of the area and visitors to Lancashire.
The Trust was founded in the 1920s when the Hall was about to be demolished. Since then the Hall has been a museum and Gallery, and host to many grand functions.
The Hall is open to the public every day, except Saturdays and occasional Fridays, when it is closed for weddings.
On this site today, you will discover an ancient, magnificently preserved manor house and gardens, with a colourful history and a wide-ranging programme of year-round events and activities. Not forgetting an overnight stay in the amazing Shepherd’s Huts
www.samlesburyhall.co.uk
01254 812010