Lichfield chef to star on Great British Menu

A Lichfield chef is starring in the new series of the The Great British Menu, which starts tonight on BBC Two at 8pm.

Born and raised in Lichfield, Liam Dillon, chief and owner of The Boat Inn has cut his teeth in several notable kitchens in the UK, such as Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, Five Fields in Chelsea, and Story by Tom Sellers in Bermondsey, London. Travelling further afield, he 's also had stints at Quay in Sydney, Noma in Copenhagen and other experience at Eleven Maddison Park, New York.

Returning to his hometown, Liam opened The Boat Inn in 2017, and transformed this tired road-side pub into a Michelin recommended, 3 AA rosettes restaurant.

It is the only restaurant in Staffordshire to hold the accolade.

Liam said: “I grew up watching the programme, dreaming of being a chef so it's a bit surreal, but also an honour, that here I am, years later, a professional on the show.

"I enjoyed every single second. It was exciting, stressful...I was surrounded by some amazing fellow chefs...it was actually a privilege to be part of the programme.

"I am also extremely proud to be flying the flag for Staffordshire, and representing my home town of Lichfield.

"It's been a tough year for everyone, especially those working in the hospitality industry. Here at The Boat Inn, we've made many changes both to the decor and the menu. We've also invested heavily in outdoor dining and I and the team can't wait to open the doors again and welcome people back."

Liam 's menu for the Great British Menu pays homage to local pioneers such as Lichfield born Samuel Johnson, who wrote the early Dictionary of the English language.