Chef Kevin Tickle parts company with Michelin-starred the Forest Side

06 August 2019 by
Chef Kevin Tickle parts company with Michelin-starred the Forest Side

Kevin Tickle has stepped down as head chef of the Michelin-starred the Forest Side hotel in Grasmere, Cumbria, to embark on new projects.

He will initially spend time with his growing young family before moving on to the next stage of his career and "exciting projects that lay ahead".

The Forest Side opened in February 2016 as the third property in the Wildsmith Hotels collection, which also comprise two other Cumbrian hotels: Hipping Hall in Kirby Lonsdale and Ryebeck in Bowness-on-Windermere. Wildsmith Hotels was founded by chemistry graduate-turned-hotelier Andrew Wildsmith.

The Forest Side swiftly became a hit with critics for the inventive food Tickle created from carefully sourced and foraged ingredients. It received three AA rosettes seven months after opening and a Michelin star soon after.

In 2017 the Forest Side was awarded four AA rosettes and the following year was ranked 27 in the Waitrose Good Food Guide.

Tickle said: "This has been a long and rewarding journey for the myself and my team. I am really proud of what we have achieved in the last few years and I would like to thank all the suppliers, staff and guests for their support.

Alasdair Elwick, general manager at the Forest Side, thanked Tickle for his time at the hotel and added that he had taken the restaurant "from strength to strength with his innovative use of Cumbrian produce".

He continued: "Details of a new head chef appointment will be announced in due course. Senior sous chef Ian Waller and the team will continue to deliver the modern cuisine inspired by the landscape of the Lakes which we have become acclaimed for here at the Forest Side - a reputation which we will continue to nourish and develop. We would like to wish Kevin every success in his future ventures."

Menuwatch: Forest Side, Grasmere, Cumbria >>

Forest Side: Andrew Wildsmith on his newest hotel opening >>

The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking