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With its golden beaches and sweeping cliffs, Cornwall is a visual delight for those who visit. At our luxury Cornish cottages you’ll experience the magnificence that the county has to offer, and with the unspoilt landscape providing the perfect backdrop for your holiday, it’s undeniable that you’ll need the food to match.

Celebrity chefs have been taking over our screens for  50 years but have become considerably more popular over the last decade. With many television chefs opening restaurants across the country, and with several in Cornwall, we thought that we would compile a guide of our top three in the area for you to try!

Paul Ainsworth at No.6, Padstow

On the north coast of Cornwall lies the fishing port of Padstow, home to Paul Ainsworth at No. 6.

How Did Paul Ainsworth Become a Chef?

Growing up in the hospitality industry, Paul Ainsworth studied hospitality at Southampton City College alongside training at The Star Hotel. It was through his education that Ainsworth was offered the chance to interview for a placement with Gary Rhodes.

This opened many doors and the next few years saw him work alongside Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wearing, allowing him to establish himself as a talented chef.

Opening Restaurants in Cornwall

Over the next couple of years, Ainsworth moved down to Padstow to work at No. 6; the restaurant he then went on to buy with his wife, Emma. Since then, he has opened a series of restaurants, and most recently a guesthouse, all in the Padstow area.

Celebrity Status

In 2011, Ainsworth appeared on the BBC2 series, The Great British Menu. Since competing, he has appeared as a regular guest on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, as well as featuring as a regular guest on BBC’s Yes Chef. Alongside this, he has firmly established himself as a celebrity chef by appearing on both MasterChef and Royal Recipes.

No. 6

Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 was awarded a Michelin Star in 2013. Since then, the restaurant has undergone a recent remodel but has remained a celebrated establishment. The delightful staff will make you feel right at home as you experience the epitome of fine dining.

Located in a gorgeous Georgian townhouse in the quaint fishing port town of Padstow, No. 6 makes use of the best locally sourced ingredients, preparing modern British food with some incredible Cornish produce!

Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, Watergate Bay

EDIT: FIFTEEN HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED AS OF DECEMBER 2019

Watergate Bay provides the impressive backdrop for the next stop on our list. One of the biggest celebrity chefs in the world, Jamie Oliver opened his Fifteen restaurants as a way of helping unemployed young adults break into the catering industry.

Recruiting Apprentices

Since the conception of the first Fifteen restaurant in London in 2002, Oliver opened another branch three miles outside of Newquay. The Watergate Bay site has since recruited over 200 apprentices, with 91% of the people who have completed the course still being in employment since leaving.

Italian Influence, Seasonal Ingredients

Main menu evening dishes take from an Italian influence, and ingredients used are selected based on the season. Not only that, but all the profits from the restaurant go to its registered charity, Cornwall Food Foundation. Due to their support, the apprenticeship scheme is able to keep running!

The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow

Rick Stein opened The Seafood Restaurant in 1974 with his wife, Jill.

A Change of Plans

Originally planned to be a nightclub, the Stein’s found trouble with the clientele that they were attracting, so after a rethink, they reopened as a seafood restaurant. Using the freshest and finest seafood that Cornwall has to offer, The Seafood Restaurant opened a year later.

Simply Classic

It’s the simple dishes and the classic flavours that make the restaurant so popular. With a bar in the centre of the room to watch chefs assemble your platter, you’ll be sure to want to return to this firm favourite amongst the visitors of Padstow.

The international reputation that it has gained over the last 44 years means that The Seafood Restaurant is going nowhere any time soon. Having only one meat dish on the menu, it really would be foolish to order anything other than fish at this fine eatery.

Which of these celebrity chef-owned restaurants would you most like to visit? Let us know via our social media channels!

Image Credit: ricksteinrestaurants

Image Credit: fifteencornwall