Blanc's The Restaurant winners to launch Marlow pub

The winners of Raymond Blanc's BBC2 television series The Restaurant are to launch their own venture in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, in the summer.

Michele English and Russell Clement, who won the second series of the show last October, will open the 65-seat Cheerful Soul in the Hare and Hounds in June.

Housed in a 17th-century country pub, the restaurant will serve a classic British menu focused on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

The couple, who have spent the last five months training with the team behind Brasserie Blanc, will share front and back of house responsibilities, with English managing the restaurant with a team of five and Clement heading up a kitchen brigade of four chefs.

Raymond Blanc said he chose the couple as The Restaurant winners because they were the most consistent both front of house and in the kitchen.

"They were the most outstanding team and their restaurant regularly made a profit," he said."Our task over the last few months has been to combine their raw talent with the training, knowledge and good business practices to succeed in running a restaurant."

English added: "The Hare and Hounds has a warm and welcoming atmosphere and feels like the perfect home for The Cheerful Soul.

"We have five weeks before opening to craft the restaurant and inject our personality into every detail."

Last year, Jeremy and Jane Hooper, the winners of the first series of The Restaurant quit their gastropub Eight at the Thatch after just seven months of running the business.

Raymond Blanc to go into business with 2008's The Restaurant winners >>

Pied à Terre's David Moore: A minute on the clock >>

Raymond Blanc the Michelin-starred chef and star of the BBC's The Restaurant >>

Blanc's The Restaurant winners quit after seven months >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kuhn here.

Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next restaurant job here with Caterersearch.com jobs