Chris Cleghorn of Bath's Olive Tree restaurant wins Chef of the Year at the Hotel Cateys

Bath’s only Michelin starred chef, Chris Cleghorn of the Olive Tree Restaurant, situated at the heart of the multi-award winning Queensberry Hotel, has been awarded the Hotel Restaurant Chef of the Year at the hotel industry ‘Oscars,' the Hotel Cateys. 

The prestigious Hotel Cateys celebrate the most successful hotel operators and their employees in the UK and are the hotel industry's only truly independent benchmark of operational excellence, with entrants judged by their peers and industry experts.

When Chris joined The Olive Tree in 2013, his stated ambition was to gain a Michelin Star. His passion and drive to deliver exceptional standards of dining were recognised with three AA rosettes in under nine months. That Michelin Star was awarded in October 2018 - and it remains Bath’s only Michelin Star, which only intensifies its shine. 

Chris has been at the forefront of championing team and resource management change at The Olive Tree and creating an environment that nurtures talent and success, yet brings a work/life balance. To achieve this in a Michelin environment is exceptional and reflects his truly caring nature.  Chris also obsessively investigates the very best of surrounding Somerset and South West producers, only casting the net geographically further when what he is looking for what cannot be found locally. 

Chris Cleghorn says: “I was literally speechless when I was announced as the winner of the Hotel Catey, especially as I was up against such admirable competition. A Michelin star was my stated career ambition, but a Hotel Catey follows as another lifetime pinnacle achievement.  The entire industry is tough for us all just now, so this award is a major boost not just for me, but for my incredible team who make our everyday successes and achievements possible.  Thank you to everyone at The Queensberry and The Olive Tree, especially Laurence and Helen Beere, for your continued support and ambition.” 

Laurence Beere, co-founder and co-owner of The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant says, “Over the last decade, I have closely watched Chris develop and grow and I have witnessed him finding, creating and constantly honing, polishing and improving his personal chef ‘hallmarks’, his vision and his style. Alongside this internal graft, he has become such a positive influence for others in our industry.  Chris goes out of his way to help everyone he can whether that is in The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant or in colleges and schools where he dedicates time to judge, mentor and teach students.”

Laurence continues, “I am deeply genuine when I say that having Chris join our team in 2013 was one of the best days for our long-standing business.  I am proud to call him my friend as well as the Executive Head Chef of our fiercely independent hotel operation. I can think of no-one who exemplifies all the required qualities of an exceptional hotel restaurant chef more fully. And I can think of no-one more deserving of this award.”