Oli Martin joins 263 Restaurant in Preston as chef director

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor

Ex-Hipping Hall head chef Oli Martin has been named chef director of 2 AA Rosette 263 Restaurant Preston, located in the Lancashire city's Winkley Square Hotel.

The MasterChef: The Professionals 2018 finalist, who worked at The Chicory, Northcote Manor, Gilpin Lodge, then Quay and Gastro Park in Australia before spending the past seven years at Hipping Hall, will jointly oversee restaurant's refurbishment with MD Mark O'Rourke. Bookings are set to go live on November 26th. 

Announcing the news on social media, Oli said: "Mega Excited to finally announce ill be taking over as Chef Director [263 Preston], teaming up with [Mark O'Rourke] to reimagine and redesign the restaurant and kitchen! We have some awesome plans, cant wait to share more with you all!"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Oli Martin (@olimartin88)

 

Meanwhile, Rikki Hughes, who recently left the Hand and Flowers where he briefly worked as sous-chef, will be the restaurant's head chef. 

The tasting menu - £35 for lunch and £65 for dinner - focuses on heritage and wild British ingredients, with dishes such as Salt Aged Quail with Jerusalem Artichoke, Barley Truffle Cream, Pickled Mushrooms, Cavolo Nero ; Lancashire Butter Pie with Truffled Potatoes, Allium Jam, Sweet Onion Sauce and Baked Bramley Apple with Brown Butter Caramel and Parkin Ice Cream.

Oli announced that he would be leaving Hipping Hall's four AA-Rosette restaurant in August. Peter Howarth, formerly head chef at the Samling hotel restaurant in the Lake District and at Gidleigh Park in Devon took his place as head chef. 

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Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor 4th November 2021

Oli Martin joins 263 Restaurant in Preston as chef director