EXCLUSIVE: Trio Of Local Chefs On Great British Menu 2013

A TRIO of the North West's best chefs do battle in the upcoming BBC's Great British Menu 2013 – Mary-Ellen McTague (main picture) of Aumbry, Aiden Byrne of Church Green and Chris Holland from the Alderley Edge Hotel. 

In each heat the regular judging panel of Matthew Fort, Oliver Peyton and Prue Leith will be joined by a comedian. For the North West this is Rowland Rivron.

The eighth series kicks off on January 28 and our regional round is scheduled for the week of February 11, the winner from each of eight heats going through into final cook-offs  to judge who cooks each of three courses at a star-studded banquet. 

This year's competition is held in conjunction with Comic Relief and the banquet will host fund-raisers for the charity. In each heat the regular judging panel of Matthew Fort, Oliver Peyton and Prue Leith will be joined by a comedian. For the North West this is Rowland Rivron. 

Nigel Haworth and Lisa Allen of Northcote Manor have been past North West successes in the GBM.

Hoping to join them are Mary-Ellen McTague, who runs Aumbry, Prestwich in conjunction with her husband Laurence Tottingham. They have won Manchester Food and Drink Festival chef of the year and Aumbry has twice won best restaurant, including 2012. 

Aiden Byrne

Aiden Byrne is  chef/proprietor of the Church Green near Lymm. This spring he teams up with Living Ventures to launch The Restaurant and Lounge @ Manchester House located in Tower 12, Avenue North, Spinningfields. A former head chef at The Dorchester Hotel Grill Room, he was the youngest chef (at 22) to win a Michelin star – at Adlards in Norwich.

Chris Holland's classic cooking has brought three AA rosettes to the Alderley Edge Hotel. He's been a favourite of Confidential's for several years now. He began his love affair with Cheshire when he left his native Lancashire for a commis chef apprenticeship at Wilmslow’s Stanneylands Hotel. Then it was Mere Country Club, near Knutsford, before moving to The Alderley Restaurant in 1996. 

Chris Holland