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Head Chef at Award-Winning Yorkshire Hotel and Restaurant Nominated for British Restaurant Award

Middleton Lodge, the award-winning country estate in North Yorkshire, is pleased to announce that Jake Jones, head chef at their restaurant Forge, has been nominated for Best Young Chef at the 6th annual British Restaurant Awards.

The awards celebrate excellence in the culinary industry, enabling customers to vote for their favourite restaurants, chefs and dining experiences across the country. Jake’s nomination highlights his talent, creativity and commitment to sustainable cooking.

Head chef Jake Jones at Forge at Middleton Lodge Estate

Since opening in February 2023, Forge has become known for its seasonal tasting menus that showcase the best ingredients from Middleton Lodge’s 200-acre estate.

The restaurant has earned a Michelin Green Star for its focus on sustainability, and Jake was awarded Michelin Young Chef of the Year at the 2024 awards ceremony earlier this year.

Exterior of Forge at Middleton Lodge

Forge is open Thursday to Sunday evenings, offering six-course and ten-course tasting menus with carefully selected wine pairings. The atmosphere at Forge is welcoming, with each course designed to reflect the estate’s produce.

“It’s an honour to be nominated for this award and I’m so grateful to everyone who has voted so far,” says Jake. “My passion is creating memorable dining experiences for everyone who visits Forge, so they can taste the estate through each course.

Forge Restaurant starter

The estate is vast and there’s so much produce in the summer months, so it’s a busy time for us creating new dishes and preserving produce for the winter months ahead.”

Owner and managing director James Allison grew up on the 200-acre estate and has spent the past 20 years restoring the grounds and buildings, which are now home to an award-winning hotel, a two-acre kitchen garden, two restaurants, a Forest Spa and private event spaces. Sustainability is at the forefront of each restoration as James works towards making Middleton Lodge self-sufficient.

Inside at Forge at Middleton Lodge Estate

Both the Coach House and Forge follow an ‘estate-to-plate’ ethos, using produce grown in the gardens, across the landscape, in the greenhouses and throughout the seasons – taking inspiration from the workings of the original 18th-century estate.

“This year at Forge has been very exciting, and the team and I are delighted that Jake has been nominated for such a prestigious award,” says James. “This nomination is a testament to his commitment to cooking and the creativity he has brought to Forge.”

Forge Restaurant vegetarian main

Votes can be cast until 24th August 2024.

Want to experience an evening at the award-winning Forge in North Yorkshire? Book your table and view the menus via their website – www.middletonlodge.co.uk

Catch a glimpse of the experience by reading our review of Forge at Middleton Lodge

Middleton Lodge Estate, Kneeton Ln, Middleton Tyas, Richmond DL10 6NJ – 01325 377977 | Get Directions