Steven Bennett leaves the Oaklands Hall hotel
Chef Steven Bennett has left the two-AA-rosette Comfy Duck bistro at Oaklands Hall hotel in Laceby to focus on his outside catering business the Lincolnshire Chef.
Bennett set up the Oaklands Hall hotel's on-site bistro, the Comfy Duck in 2012. In December 2016 it was awarded its second AA-rosette.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Bennett said: "After an exciting five years at the Comfy Duck and Oaklands Hall Hotel, I wanted to take this time to say goodbye to all of our incredible customers, suppliers, friends and staff whilst I move onto my next venture, as I leave the Oaklands Hall Hotel Ltd as a director, shareholder and chef.
"In the past five years not only have we built a team of 73 incredible staff, won best restaurant in Lincolnshire three years running and been awarded two rosettes, but we've built some life-long relationships through working with numerous charities, schools and local like-minded businesses.
"Over the next few months, myself and the Lincolnshire Chef team will be focusing on growing our outside catering and working with some very exciting national brands, helping to put Lincolnshire produce on the foodie map."
The announcement comes three days after the chef was awarded Northern Lincolnshire's Business Person of the Year at the Hull & Humber Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards.
Bennett has worked in a range of top restaurants including Winteringham Fields in North Lincolnshire, The Star Inn in North Yorkshire and Harts Hotel in Nottingham.
He held the role of director at the Brackenborough and Ashbourne hotels and restaurants in Lincolnshire for almost a decade, before going on to run the Comfy Duck.
In 2014 Steven Bennett was granted membership of the Guild of Master Craftsmen.
Bennett will be hosting a pop-up event at the Lincolnshire Show on 21 and 22 June.
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