Ben Handley
II first started cooking at school, infact I was the only boy in the home economics class!! Make of that what you will.
Proper work started at the age of 15 at the Cavendish Hotel in Baslow, Derbyshire, set on the Chatsworth Estate, i instantly fell in love with it.
I worked at the Cavendish for 10 years moving up the kitchen ranks to sous chef, a position I held for three years untill my boss Eric Marsh bought another hotel, The George in Hathersage (Peak District). I moved there as head chef and worked my butt of for 5 years to build up a good reputation.
I got itchy feet and left the George to work in food industry development, mostly for Tesco and Waitrose, but after a year realised I missed the cut and thrust of a commercial kitchen so I returned to the George for some unfinished business!
After another 2 years at the George I was also given the responsibly of over seeing the Cavendish Hotel kitchen effectively making me Executive chef, which allowed me to step away from the stove at the George and improve menus and recipes for both hotels.
I worked for Eric Marsh for 20 years in that time we won many awards........
Master Chef of Great Britain 2003 to present
1 AA Rosette 1997-2000 (George Hotel)
2 AA Rosettes 2001 to present (George Hotel)
2 R.A.C Dining awards 1998 to present (George Hotel)
R.A.C White ribbon Hotel excellence award 2004 to present (George Hotel)
Good Hotel Guide 2002 to present (George hotel)
Good food guide 2003 to present (George Hotel)
Derbyshire Restaurant of the year runner up 2004 (George Hotel)
West Side Magazine best Country House Hotel 2006 (George Hotel)
1 A.A Rosette 2004 (Cavendish Hotel)
2 A.A Rosettes 2004 to present (Cavendish Hotel)
R.A.C Blue Ribbon Hotel excellence award 2004 to present (Cavendish Hotel)
Good Food Guide 2003 to present (Cavendish Hotel)
In March 2008 Jackie and I bought the Laughing Monk in Strete, It's certainly on a smaller scale to what I've been use to but believe it's just right for us to build a brilliant future for us and our children
