Hill aims to win back star for the Box Tree

The new chef at the Box Tree restaurant in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, which lost its long-held Michelin star earlier this year, has been announced as Alan Hill.

Derbyshire-born Hill, 34, takes over from current head chef Shane Goodway next week. Goodway decided to leave the Box Tree a few months ago, although denied it had anything to do with the restaurant losing its Michelin star. Hill moves on from the one-Michelin-starred Juniper restaurant in Altrincham, Cheshire, where he spent seven years as Paul Kitching's sous chef as well doing stints at Cumbrian country house hotel's Michael's Nook and Holbeck Ghyll.

"The Box Tree is probably one of the most famous restaurants in the country and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of getting the star back. It'll be a difficult ride, but I'm hopeful that we can do it," Hill told Caterer this week.

Since leaving Juniper in January 2002, Hill headed up the brigade at Rems café bar in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire. "I wanted to try something different, but there's still part of me that wants to do the Michelin thing and I'll never have a better opportunity," he said.

Initially, Hill plans to stick with the current menu until he has settled into his role heading up the two-strong kitchen brigade. He anticipates that future menus will feature updated classics.

The Box Tree is owned by Helen Avis, a former Catey winner, who bought the restaurant in 1992. It gained a Michelin star the following year which it retained for 10 years until the 2003 Red Guide was published in January.