Award-chef Nigel Smith has a new home – but he hasn’t travelled far! Nigel has moved just up the road from Ribby Hall Leisure Village to the Villa, Wrea Green. The 41-year old is a partner and the new chef patron at the country house hotel, bought by well-known Fylde farming family the Rigbys.

He is now hoping to revitalise the venue with a ‘back to basics’ approach – focusing on using locally sourced produce. Nigel is also takin his restaurant staff with him and is going to continue with his renowned residential cookery classes.

He said: “The Villa is a beautiful, beautiful building and has so much potential. It’s been inconsistent over the years with different owners but the idea is to turn it back to the old Villa. I’m going to meet with local suppliers so I know exactly where the food has been – from the farmyard to the plate – that’s something I’m very passionate about. It’s all about having great food, a wide range, and very, very reasonable prices.”

Nigel has a vast amount of experience and has won countless awards for his cooking. Having attended catering college in Blackburn he went on to work at a variety of establishments around the country – including the Savoy Hotel in London, Churchill’s Restaurant, Preston and the Dalmeny Hotel, St. Annes. He moved to Ribby Hall as Chef Consultant in 2004 and says he is sad to be leaving.

But he couldn’t resist the chance to work with Simon Rigby. He said: “I have had six great years and I have had some great customer support. From a competitor point of view we have developed one of the leading restaurants and we have been for six years. Ribby Hall has been very good to me and very supportive of everything I’ve done and we still have a great relationship. At the end of the day things move on and Simon presented me with a great opportunity. Between us we have so much knowledge and experience. There is an opportunity to grow and develop that product.”