Stamp of approval for young chef's restaurant
A young ambitious Shropshire chef is starting a new venture in Ludlow – and I've been the first in the queue to wish him well.
Will Mason, a chef with top credentials, has relaunched The Mail Room Restaurant, in Ludlow, and I was privileged to attend its gala night last Monday.
Will is a good young chef. He has previously worked with Stuart Phillips, at The Hundred House, in Norton, near Bridgnorth. Stuart is one of the most widely-respected chefs in our region. Earlier this week, he won a tourism award from the Shropshire Star for running the county's best restaurant. Will learned a lot from Stuart from an early age, and from other chefs he worked for in the region.
We all know about Ludlow's reputation as being a centre of gastronomic excellence. It's been on the map for more than 15 years and it's restaurants, food festival and foodie culture attract tens of thousands of people each year.
Ludlow's restaurant scene is fascinating. There are big hitters such as La Becasse and Mr Underhills, which are real showstoppers. And then there are high quality places offering great value food, such as Chiccetti and The Green Café.
In my opinion, one thing that Ludlow has lacked in recent times has been a good mid-priced restaurant. Will is aiming to fill that gap with The Mail Room.
I was delighted to attend the official opening and personally wish him well. The restaurant has been open for a few years now and Will has led a management buy-out to acquire the restaurant. He has taken a big leap and he's now not only the head chef, he's also the proprietor.
He plans to turn the place around and make it a classy establishment with a loyal clientele, serving great food with fantastic service. It's good news that he's staying in the county and I was happy to show him my support. Every young chef needs the chance to shine and I wish him all the very best.
The Mail Room has all the right ingredients to be a success. I hope Will's bravery and determination are rewarded.
l Will Holland is a multi-award winning Shropshire chef who earned a Michelin star before the age of 30. His new restaurant in Bridgnorth will open in spring 2014.
