Paul grew up in Staffordshire and went to King Edwards school. He discovered his love for cooking while spending time with his nan, making British dishes like shepherd’s pie and apple crumble. Realizing he could make these meals at home fueled his passion for cooking.
His interest was further encouraged by his mother, who loved trying new recipes with him. At 12, he began baking cakes for a neighbor’s café, which led to a part-time job there. He spent his evenings and weekends working in various kitchens, progressing from potwash to apprentice, and eventually attended catering college.
Since graduating Paul’s journey has taken him to the kitchens of Michelin Starred restaurants all over Europe, before he came back to Stafforshire to take his first head Chefs job aged 25. After a successful 3 year run at the now defunct Swinfen Hall, in 2015 Paul made the decision to up roots and move to Denmark with his wife and two daughters in search of a better work life balance.
In 2015, this lead him to the doors of Henne Kirkeby Kro, where he has been until now, spending the last 9 years as Head Chef. During this time, the restaurant was awarded one Michelin Star in 2016 followed by a second a year later in 2017.
Now the journey has come full circle as Paul opens his debut restaurant Pearl, named after his nan Shirley and the infamous string of pearls she would wear during their times in the kitchen together. The food style is described as simple and playful, using a blend of both traditional and modern techniques to maximise flavour, and deliver elegant and delicious dishes to the guests. Pearl is, in essence, a distillation of the journey so far, served up on a plate with a smile.
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