Monday March 24 2025
Swindon & Wiltshire News
A Marlborough chef has won a national recipe challenge to have a dish he created served in hotels and pubs across the county.
Adam Barrett, head chef at the Castle & Ball hotel in Marlborough won the Old English Inns recipe challenge 2013.
The competition tasked chefs from across the country to invent a new dish for summer specials boards in Old English Inns’ pubs, inns and hotels.
Adam won with his dish, a roasted cod loin with pan fried black pearl scallop on sautéed fennel and bacon, drizzled with a tomato and dill butter sauce.
Castle & Ball manager Nigel Forrester said: “Adam is a very talented chef and cooks wonderful food for our customers.
“We are all extremely proud of him and look forward to putting the cod on the menu later this month.”
Adam’s recipe will be rolled out across the country to more than 100 Old English Inn pubs and hotels.
He competed in the recent final against five other regional finalists who were given just 15 minutes each to cook their dish for the judging panel.
As well as having his dish served to thousands of people across the country, he also received a £1,000 prize.
Adam, who has been a chef for more than 17 years said: “I wanted to create something very fresh for the summer. I was really chuffed to have won, particularly as I have very recently become a Dad for the first time so the prize money has helped pay for the odd nappy or two!”
Peter Hebblethwaite, business unit director for Old English Inns said: “The judges were impressed that his cod and scallop dish was very seasonal and would be a quality addition to the spring summer menu.
“He is a real asset to the company and I look forward to seeing what he has to offer in the competition next year.”
