One of the biggest social and culinary events in the region’s calendar, the Cheshire Life and Lancashire Life Food & Drink Awards are designed to champion, highlight and offer a showcase to the good and the great from the region’s food and drink industry – including local producers and suppliers, chefs, restaurants, pubs and hoteliers, and people who care about the countryside and the future of our local environment.
Chef Patron Paul Askew triumphed with the Cheshire Life and Lancashire Life North West Chef of the Year, proving he is someone who has devoted himself to the cause of serving the best possible food within the region.

Explaining their reasoning behind Chef Askew’s achievement, Cheshire Life and Lancashire Life said: “Our Chef of the Year 2015 is not just a cook, albeit one of the best cooks in the business, he’s a food champion, an ambassador for his profession and for his home city and a huge supporter of apprentice schemes dedicated to nurturing young talent to seize the opportunities he has done so much to create.
And just over a year ago - after a hugely successful period as Chef Director at the highly regarded Hope Street Hotel and London Carriageworks Restaurant - he realised his dream by opening his own fine dining venture to deserved and immediate acclaim.
Our winner is rightly convinced that a culture of good food and top quality hospitality is vital to the wellbeing of any great city and the rapid development of the vibrant dining scene in Liverpool - in which he has played such a major role - is one of the key attributes to the dramatic regeneration of the great port city in recent years.”

The plaudits kept on coming with The Art School Restaurant taking the title of Lancashire Life Restaurant of the Year.

Judges were looking for a restaurant in Lancashire which offered the best dining experience including food, décor and service.

The judges said this striking building had a more than worthy occupant in the premises where the service was exemplary and the innovative cuisine took the city’s culinary offering to a new level of excellence.

The double win was a joyous occasion for Chef Paul Askew and his hardworking, dedicated team.
Speaking of their success Chef Askew said: “Just to be shortlisted amongst the final three in the Best Restaurant category was great but to win was amazing, especially for the team after only being open for 14 months. It’s a huge pat on the back for all of the team and their hard work, especially to open a new business and to get the restaurant in a position where it is already winning awards.

“The big one for me was winning the North West Chef of the Year which came as a wonderful surprise and quite an emotional one with winning the two together. I think it gives the team a sense of where we are in the region, not just in our own little bubble within the Art School.
“People outside of the City in Cheshire, Lancashire and the Lake District have also recognised what we are trying to do so it really is wonderful. It’s a beautiful thing.”
About The Art School Restaurant and Chef Paul Askew
Located in the stunning lantern room of the Victorian 1888 ‘Home for Destitute Children’ building on Sugnall Street is merely a stone’s throw away from Hope Street and Liverpool city centre.
Chef Paul Askew is a North West Food Champion and is recognised as one the regions’ best Chef’s. Former director of the highly acclaimed Hope Street Hotel and London CarriageWorks Restaurant and a member of the Royal Academy of the Culinary Art.
Paul is well known for his passion for local produce and seasonal ingredients. He has been working with his chosen suppliers for many years and has therefore established close relationships where excellent quality is guaranteed.
www.theartschoolrestaurant.co.uk/
About the Cheshire Life and Lancashire Life Food & Drink Awards
The 20th Cheshire Life and Lancashire Life Food & Drink Awards are recognised as the ‘Oscars of the north west food and drink industry.
The awards are sponsored by the Stockport based Brewers – Robinsons for the fifth year running.
These awards are designed to champion, highlight and showcase the region’s food and drink industry including local producers and suppliers, chefs, restaurants, pubs, hoteliers and people who care about the countryside and the future of our local environment.
foodawards.cheshirelife.co.uk/

We wish Paul and his team many more successes over the years to come and thank them for their continued support as a Sponsor of Wirral RFC.