Mark Poynton steps down as chef patron of Caistor Hall

Mark Poynton has resigned as chef patron and director of Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall, Norwich's only Michelin-starred restaurant, after more than four years on the project.

He announced the news via Instagram, saying he will now focus fully on his Cambridge restaurant, Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton.

The decision came, in his words, "with a heavy heart," after three and a half years since the restaurant first opened its doors.

He wrote: "It's with a heavy heart that after four and a half years work (being open three and a half years) I decided last week that I would be leaving and resigning my position as chef/patron and director at Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall.

"Being Norwich's only Michelin star restaurant and holding three AA rosettes, it has been the upmost pleasure and a lot of fun, getting to know all the local foodies and building friendships that will last a lifetime, and memories these guests and suppliers have brought to the restaurant will live with me forever."

Praise for head chef Byron Franklin

Mark used the announcement to pay tribute to his kitchen team, led by head chef Byron Franklin, who joined him at Caistor Hall from the outset. A Cambridge native, Byron previously worked at Alimentum and spent a year working alongside Mark at The Shepherds before the pair opened Caistor Hall together in 2023.

He said: "Thank you to the team headed up by the super talented Byron Franklin, who without, the success certainly wouldn't have come so quick and been sustained from day one to now."

Byron has played a central role in the restaurant's rise, culminating in the award of a Michelin star in February 2025.

• Read more: ‘1,000 bookings in 20 minutes’ – The impact of a Michelin star
• Feature: Two restaurants, one philosophy: Mark Poynton on simplicity and standards

From Alimentum to Caistor Hall

Mark took over as head chef at Alimentum in Cambridge in 2010, going on to win a Michelin star in 2012, which the restaurant held until 2017 before it later closed, then took on the head chef role at Caistor Hall when the Georgian hotel reopened under new ownership in 2021. The restaurant launched in March 2023, in what was formerly the hotel's old drawing room, before earning a Michelin star in 2025, which it retained in this year's Guide.

• Read more: All the latest restaurants added to the Michelin Guide

Speaking to The Staff Canteen about the impact of that award, Mark said Caistor Hall received 1,000 bookings within 20 minutes of the announcement. He said: "That's immeasurable against anything else. If Jay Rayner comes into your restaurant, you don't get that."

Reflecting separately on what the star means to him, Mark said: "You should never chase a Michelin star. You should chase something that doesn't exist, which is perfection."

Refocusing on Ancient Shepherds

Mark said he will now put all his focus into his original restaurant, Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton, in Fen Ditton, three miles outside Cambridge. The site, which first opened during the pandemic as MJP @ The Shepherds, was refurbished and rebranded under its new name.

Speaking to The Staff Canteen earlier this year about running both restaurants, Mark admitted the arrangement had developed almost by accident. He said: "It happened by default really. Here we are three years later - two restaurants, 52 miles apart, causing me headaches!"