Grasmere’s The Forest Side has today announced the appointment of Paul Leonard as its new head chef, following the departure of Kevin Tickle earlier in the month. The Michelin-starred, four AA Rosette restaurant and rooms will welcome Leonard in November 2019.
Having previously cooked under the likes of Marcus Wareing and Andrew Fairlie, Leonard’s Michelin experience also includes retaining a star at The Isle of Eriska on the west coast of Scotland – a great achievement for his first role as head chef.
He joins The Forest Side from The Devonshire Arms in Bolton Abbey, where he has held the position of head chef since 2017. Winning 4 Rosettes for Burlington (the hotel’s restaurant) within the first year, Leonard has been praised for his loving and simple use of local produce.
This celebration of provenance is an ethos he will carry with him to The Forest Side, where the culinary experience is designed to reflect the landscape of the Lakes in which it sits.
Owner of The Forest Side, Andrew Wildsmith, says of the appointment: “I’ve followed Paul’s career with interest over the last few years. He’s a great chef, a great guy and I can’t wait for him to join the team at Forest Side.”
Whilst General Manager Alasdair Elwick says: “Myself and the team are thrilled to be welcoming Paul to Grasmere. His extensive experience and passion for local produce make him the ideal fit to take the helm at Forest Side, where we continue to go from strength to strength in our efforts to showcase the best of Cumbria’s remarkable larder. We look forward to revealing further details in due course.”