Beaulieu restaurant celebrates first Michelin Star

The Montagu Arms Hotel in Beaulieu has gone all starry eyed as it has just announced that it has gained a Michelin star, for its fantastic oak panelled dining room, The Terrace.

This impressive gain is thanks to Matthew Tomkinson, a super star chef in the making. The Montagu Arms' objective has always been to achieve a Michelin star but it is true testament to Matthew’s cooking abilities that this dream has been realised in just 6 months of Tomkinson joining the hotel.

Matthew comes from good stock! He is a previous winner of the Roux scholarship, where he had to compete with 6 other chefs in front of a panel comprising Gary Rhodes, Rick Stein, Brian Turner, David Nicholls, Tamasin Day-Lewis and of course the Roux family! Needless to say he came out a winner and went onto achieve a Michelin star, as Head Chef at the Goose in Oxfordshire, just one year later.

Mr James Hiley-Jones, Area General Manager of both sister property, Careys Manor and The Montagu Arms Hotel says:

“We are obviously delighted to receive a Michelin star. It has been the hotel's aim for a number of years now. Head Chef, Matthew Tomkinson is a very deserving chef, his food is fantastic and to celebrate, we are running a special lunch promotion of £17.00 per person including a glass of Prosecco."

Tomkinson says he is continuing to develop and grow a working vegetable garden at the property and his favourite aspect of cooking, is when the seasons change. Matthew says he loves the taste of fresh, beautifully cooked simple foods and this is reflected in his award winning menus. He continues “I enjoy foods that are familiar but with a few surprises!”

For more information, log on to Montaguarmshotel.co.uk.