COUNTY NEWS: Matt Gillan to leave The Pass at South Lodge Hotel

Chef Matt Gillan will leave The Pass at the end of April after a decade at the five star country house hotel near Horsham.
Matt Gillan. Picture: Dave Green dave@greenimaging.co.ukMatt Gillan. Picture: Dave Green dave@greenimaging.co.uk
Matt Gillan. Picture: Dave Green [email protected]

Mr Gillan, who launched The Pass in 2008, has yet to reveal where he is headed.

In a statement he said the ‘decision to leave hasn’t been an easy one’ and praised South Lodge and Exclusive Hotels and Venues, which owns the hotel, for the ‘incredible platform’ at The Pass that has allowed him to showcase his ‘skills and creativity’.

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“I feel enormously privileged and proud to have achieved so much throughout my ten years. I shall be very sad to say goodbye but the time is now right for me to move on and I am looking forward to my next venture.”

Danny Pecorelli, managing director of Exclusive Hotels and Venues, said: “We are really proud of Matt and have enjoyed watching his raw talent and ambition develop over the years into the incredible chef he is today. Matt’s experimental originality and playful showmanship has secured The Pass’s reputation as a vibrant destination restaurant, so I’ve no doubt of his future success and wish him all the very best.”

In his time The Pass retained a Michelin star for five years and won four AA rosettes.

Last year Mr Gillan also saw success and gained recognition appearing in the finals of BBC TV show Great British Menu.

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His main dish ‘Teaching and Preaching’, went on to feature at a special banquet celebrating 100 years of the Women’s Institute, after receiving straight ‘ten’ scores from both the chefs and judges.

The Exclusive Hotels and Venues has an impressive track record for attracting award-winning talented chefs including Matt Worswick at Pennyhill Park, Olly Rouse at Lainston House, Rob Potter at The Manor House and former head chef of The Camellia at South Lodge and winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2013, Steven Edwards.

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