Abode Chester appoints new executive head chef

Ian Hird has been appointed executive head chef of the four-AA-star, 84 bedroom Abode Chester.

He arrived at the hotel earlier this month, having previously worked at the Chester Grosvenor hotel and the Belfry hotel, near Birmingham, during a 20-year career in the restaurant business.

In his new role, Hird will look after the menus for the Michael Caines restaurant, as well as the more casual Café Bar and Grill, and the Lounge Bar.

Current dishes in the Michael Caines restaurant include slow-cooked guinea fowl with confit wing, braised leg and pearl barley; and peanut butter parfait with vanilla yoghurt, banana ice-cream and salted popcorn.

The Michael Caines restaurant currently offers an early evening table d'hote menu at £17.95 for two courses, or £22.95 for three courses, alongside a tasting menu costing £50 Monday to Thursday and £65 Friday to Saturday, and an à la carte menu.

Abode Chester is one of six hotels operating under the Abode brand, within the 12-strong Andrew Brownsword hotels group.

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