It has been a memorable couple of years for Kenny Atkinson. He shot to fame in 2008 after winning a Michelin star at St Martin in the Isles of Scilly, went on to become head chef at Seaham Hall and has just opened his eponymous restaurant at the brand new luxury hotel Rockliffe Hall. Kerstin Kühn talks to him about his journey to success.
The past two years have been a complete rollercoaster ride," says Kenny Atkinson, scratching his head. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself just to make sure it's all real." From shooting to fame after winning a Michelin star at St Martin in the Isles of Scilly in 2008, to becoming executive head chef at Seaham Hall in County Durham, wining a place in the finals of the BBC's Great British Menu and being named Chef of the Year at the Hotel Cateys, Atkinson's career has truly rocketed in the last 24 months. It has been full steam ahead but now the Geordie chef is ready to settle down - at least for a while.
Atkinson has just opened his eponymous restaurant at the brand new Rockliffe Hall hotel in Darlington, County Durham. The £60m development, owned by Middlesbrough Football Club chairman Steve Gibson, launched last November as one of two major new UK luxury hotels (the other one was Lime Wood in the New Forest).
WATCH THE VIDEO:
Read the full interview here >>