A CHEF at the Clarendon country pub and restaurant, in Hebden, has won a top regional award.

Lionel Strub, owner of the country pub and restaurant was handed the Oliver Award for Outstanding Contribution by fellow chef Steph Moon at an event in Leeds.

The awards pay tribute to the best that Leeds and the wider region has to offer from bars to chefs, to restaurants and breweries.

In presenting the award Steph described Lionel as 'being a fierce ambassador of Yorkshire food' and 'that the judges were impressed by his knowledge of local food and drink'.

Lionel was born in Eastern France and after training as a chef moved to the UK over 30 years ago. He has owned and run restaurants, delicatessen, coffee shops and a cookery school in Yorkshire for over twenty years.

Since taking over The Clarendon in 2015, Lionel has been keen to build its reputation as a great place for both locals and visitors. Making the best use of local produce was a key goal and Lionel is now proud that 80 per cent of the menu is sourced from within four miles of the pub. The Clarendon scooped the Oliver Award for Best Rural Pub in 2016 and last year was awarded an AA rosette for culinary excellence.

Jonathan, his son, has followed in his father’s footsteps and now works as the Head Chef at the Clarendon sharing his dad’s passion for serving and celebrating the best of local produce.

Upon receiving the award Lionel said: “The food and hospitality industry works in very difficult times and requires an amazing amount of dedication and determination from all involved to succeed. Having a belief in what you do makes all the difference.

"We are so fortunate in our part of Yorkshire to be living and working within a stone’s throw of some of the country’s finest producers and food products.

"Winning this award means a lot to me, but also to all those who have supported and shared my passion for good cooking and serving great food.”