Nick Bennett to replace Karl Martin as head chef of Old Downtown Lodge

Karl Martin is stepping down from his role as head chef at Old Downton Lodge; chef Nick Bennett will be taking his place.

Originally from Leamington Spa, Nick Bennett, who appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2015 and has worked at The Mallory Court under Simon Haigh and Andrew Scott. He followed Andrew to The Curlew Restaurant, where he won the Sussex Young Chef of the Year in 2013.

Nick and Andrew's working relationship continued as they both joined Sudbury House Hotel in early 2014. Restaurant 56 was awarded 3 AA rosettes and won the Best Gastronomic Restaurant at the Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards in 2015.

Nick said he was "really excited" to be joining the team at Old Downton Lodge.

"After visiting the property and surrounding area, it was an easy decision

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for me to make. Karl Martin has set the standards here and I am extremely grateful for that, and hope to carry on the restaurant in the same direction as he has taken it. it is an extremely excited time for myself and my young family and I can’t wait to get started with Willem, Pippa and the team.”

When Karl Martin announced he would be leaving, he told The Staff Canteen that he was planning to stay in his role until October while they sought his replacement.

He said he was very glad to have spent five years at the restaurant, and that "watching it grow from quite a small base to four rosettes in the space of five years has been incredible."

"I'm very proud of the whole thing, past and present - what we've achieved and how we've all got there."