Photo caption: Martin Ayliffe, Head Chef at the West Town Inn , Allen Sorrell, pub chef at The Ship Inn in Langstone, Alan Mak MP and Giless Babb, Head Chef at Emsworth’s Blue Bell Inn
Three local pub chefs have won a constituency-wide competition organised by local MP Alan Mak.
Giles Babb from Emsworth’s Blue Bell Inn, Martin Ayliffe of The West Town Inn on Hayling Island, and Allen Sorrell, head chef at The Ship Inn in Langstone came top of a poll of local residents.
In October 2015, Alan Mak, MP for Havant, asked local residents to nominate their favourite pub chef for his new Local Pub Chef Award designed to highlight the talents of the unsung heroes working hard in kitchens, who are often unseen and unrecognised.
Local pub landlords and managers were encouraged to ask their customers to vote for their pubs chef, and Alan Mak MP’s office sent every pub a poster for display in their pub inviting customers to submit nominations. The competition provide popular amongst local pubs and customers alike.
The winners of Alan’s local competition will now go forward as Havant’s representatives in a national competition to find Britain’s top pub chef run by the All Party Parliamentary Beer group, the British Beer and Pub Association and Nestle.
Alan Mak MP said, “Congratulations to Giles, Allen and Martin whose hard work and talent has been recognised by local residents in my new competition. Our local pubs are big employers contributing to our growing local economy and vibrant community hubs that bring people together, so I hope this new competition has helped raise their profile. Good luck to our three local chefs in the national competition!”
Allen Sorrell, pub chef at The Ship Inn in Langstone said, "Everyone likes good pub food, and Alan's new awards are a very welcome way of letting residents know about the talented pub chefs we have in the area. I hope residents continue to support our local pubs as much as our new MP is"
Giles Babb, head chef at Emsworth’s Blue Bell Inn said, "Local pubs are at the heart of the community, and I'm delighted Alan is supporting our pubs and pub chefs as local MP. I'm delighted to be a winner of Alan's Pub Chef Award and look forward to showcasing all that's best about local pubs on the national stage"
Martin Ayliffe, head chef at The West Town Inn on Hayling Island said, "Pubs are important local employers and I'm pleased Alan is highlighting the important economic and social role they play. Pub chefs play a big part in making our pubs attractive, and I'm very pleased that Havant and Hayling will be represented at the national awards"