Discover the The Old Bell in Malmesbury
Executive Chef Leigh Evans
The Old Bell Hotel has appointed Leigh Evans as Executive Chef to take charge of its newly refurbished and renamed fine dining restaurant, Abbey Row. Promising a memorable and exciting, modern restaurant experience for diners.
The hospitality industry is in Leighs blood, having grown up in his family run pub in Someset. He joins The Old Bell Hotel having successfully worked in kitchens as a professional chef since the age of 16.
He climbed the culinary ladder in celebrated restaurants across the South West including four years at the The Royal Crescent Bath. Following that he moved to The Chequers where he won two AA Rosettes and Gastropub of the year. As both General Manager and Head Chef at The Methuen Arms, he was awarded three AA Rosettes.
When asked what he was most excited about in his new role, Leigh replied "I’m excited about the challenge of creating and developing a new fine dining experience for The Old Bell Hotel. I like to choose the best quality ingredients –local where possible – and use modern techniques to create a memorable and exciting dining experience for our guests."
“Following the recent refurbishment, it’s a really beautiful dining room and The Old Bell is a stunning hotel,” added Leigh. “It’s one of the best hotels in Wiltshire and now I want to give it the best restaurant. We hope to attain as many of the highest accolades for the restaurant as we possibly can.”
Leighs career has included winning multiple awards, notably a coveted Acorn Award from leading hospitality magazine The Caterer. He has been a finalist on BBC’s popular culinary show ‘Masterchef The Professionals’, as well as having products sold into Waitrose and M & S in his role as a development chef.
