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The Old Bell Hotel has appointed Leigh Evans as executive chef to take charge of its newly refurbished and renamed fine dining restaurant, Abbey Row.
Having grown up in his family-run pub in Somerset, he joins The Old Bell Hotel after having successfully worked in kitchens as a professional chef since the age of 16.
He worked at “celebrated” restaurants across the South West, including four years at the Royal Crescent Bath.
Following that, he moved to The Chequers, where he won two AA Rosettes and Gastropub of the Year.
As both general manager and head chef at The Methuen Arms, he was awarded three AA Rosettes.
Evans has also been a finalist on the BBC’s popular culinary show ‘Masterchef: The Professionals’, as well as having products sold into Waitrose and Marks and Spencer in his role as a development chef.
Evans said: “I’m excited about the challenge of creating and developing a new fine dining experience for The Old Bell Hotel. I like to choose the best quality ingredients –local where possible – and use modern techniques to create a memorable and exciting dining experience for our guests.
“Following the recent refurbishment, it’s a really beautiful dining room, and The Old Bell is a stunning hotel. It’s one of the best hotels in Wiltshire, and now I want to give it the best restaurant. We hope to attain as many of the highest accolades for the restaurant as we possibly can.”
