Colyton chef selected to appear on BBC's 'Great British Menu'

East Devon chef Sam Lomas has been selected to compete in this year's season of the prestigious BBC Two show 'Great British Menu'. 

The competition, presented by Andi Oliver, sees chefs from across Britain compete to win one of their dishes a place on the menu at a grand banquet, this year marking 100 years of British broadcasting. 

Sam, aged 26, is currently head chef at Glebe House Devon, a restaurant and guest house based in Southleigh, near Colyton, but in the competition he will be representing his home region of the North West, with the heats airing tonight (Tuesday).

Sam grew up in the village of Kerridge, just outside Macclesfield, and attended The Fallibroome Academy.

At 18 he won a competition to be an apprentice at River Cottage, near Axminster, with celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, where his love for sustainable practices, foraging and seasonal cooking developed.

Sam's dishes are creative, seasonal and locally inspired. He's dedicated to having a close connection with local suppliers and helping to grow his own and raise livestock on site at Glebe House, which was named The Sunday Times' B&B of the Year 2021.

On being selected for the competition Sam said: "It's a real privilege to be a competitor in this series of Great British Menu.

"This show was an inspiration for me growing up and is one of the reasons I became a chef in the first place. 

"It's an honour to be representing the North West in the competition, it'll always be home. But Devon and the South West is where I learned to cook and is a constant inspiration to me.

"The variety of amazing producers, chefs and restaurants is great, it feels like a real community."

Series 17 of the BBC's 'Great British Menu' sees a new judging line-up of Michelin starred and double banquet winner Tom Kerridge, restaurateur Nisha Katona, and comedian and food podcast presenter Ed Gamble.