A FORMER executive chef at a leading Manchester restaurant has moved to the Forest.

Rob Cox, who was at Michael Caines at Abode, has just joined the team at the multi-award winning Tudor Farmhouse in Clearwell. 

The chef has big ambitions for the recently refurbished hotel and restaurant. 

He said: “Working in a celebrity restaurant was great, and I loved every minute of my seven years, but I want to build a name for myself now and put my own stamp on a destination, and that place is the Tudor Farmhouse.

“It’s perfect for me. It celebrates everything that I believe is important when it comes to cooking. 

“I’m passionate about local, seasonal produce and in my spare time I love nothing more than foraging for herbs and have a keen interest in game. It was Tudor Farmhouse’s commitment to ‘local and homegrown’ that first struck me – their 20-mile menu ethos is something I really want to develop. 

“I can’t wait to get my hands on the kitchen garden and plan to work closely with Jeanie our gardener and local forager Raoul Van Den Broucke to really maximise seasonality.”

Rob says the area was also a big draw, he loves the beautiful Wye Valley and Forest of Dean countryside and the friendly people who already have made him feel really welcome.