Sam Moody to leave Ballyfin for ‘new project’

Chef Sam Moody has announced he will be leaving Ballyfin at the end of March, after more than six years, for a new restaurant project in County Laois in Ireland.

Posting on Instagram, the chef said he was “never one to celebrate the end, but very excited about this new beginning”.

He told The Caterer: “I’m grateful for the six years I’ve had at Ballyfin and the wonderful induction to Ireland.

“We are now excited to be setting up our first restaurant opening in Laois in the spring. More details of the project to follow soon.”

Moody joined the luxury Ballyfin country house hotel in County Laois as head chef in October 2016 following nearly seven years as executive chef at the 33-bedroom Bath Priory hotel.

The Acorn Award winner (2011) and winner of the 2013 Hotel Catey award for Chef of the Year also previously worked for Andrew Brownsword's Gidleigh Park hotel in Chagford, Devon, under Michael Caines.

Having studied at Central Sussex College in Crawley, Moody started his career as a commis chef at Ockenden Manor hotel in Cuckfield, West Sussex. Two and a half years later, at the age of 20, he moved to Gidleigh Park. Three years after taking over the head chef role at the Bath Priory, the hotel's restaurant was awarded a Michelin star.

Ballyfin, which is often described as Ireland's most lavish country house hotels, was opened in 2011 by Fred and Kay Krehbiel, following an eight-year restoration.