Kevin Viner to head up new Bournemouth restaurant
Former National Chef of the Year Kevin Viner is to head up a new restaurant in Bournemouth called Neo.
Viner will be executive chef at the glass-surrounded restaurant opposite the Bournemouth International Centre and overlooking the pier.
It is expected to create 50 jobs when it opens later this month.
Viner began his career at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before becoming the youngest ever lecturer at the Army School of Catering at the age of 23. He went on to represent Great Britain for a decade in the ‘culinary Olympics', winning several gold medals.
He was also named the AA chef's chef of the year in 1999.
For seven years, between 1993 and 2000, his restaurant Pennypots in Blackwater, Cornwall, had a Michelin star.
He also ran Viners in Cornwall until 2010 and more recently has been consulting and cooking for the Prince and Princess of Monaco.
Viner said: "I always loved Bournemouth and came here on holiday as a child, so when I decided to move into the restaurant business in 1989 it was the first place I looked.
"Unfortunately there was nothing available at the time so I went to Cornwall only intending to stay there for three or four years and ended up staying for 20.
"Now I am incredibly excited to be executive chef of a standalone restaurant in Bournemouth, which I'm confident will develop a fine reputation and become a culinary destination.
"Although I first trained as a pastry chef I'm an all-rounder and the food will be modern British with as many ingredients as possible sourced locally.
"We have a state of the art kitchen and will be concentrating on simplicity and strong flavours.
"A pastry chef will prepare fresh bread and cakes daily and all my years of experience will be utilised at Neo."
The restaurant will be open for morning coffee and there is an all-day menu, cocktail bar, pre-theatre food, alfresco dining and cooking plus a private function room for 20.
The restaurant will be able to accommodate up to 200 people in total, and Viner has appointed Chris Howard as head chef.
Cornwall restaurant Viners forced to shut after arson attack >>
Viner adopts casual food in new venture >>
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