MasterChef: The Professionals runner-up named head chef of Somerset restaurant

MasterChef: The Professionals runner-up Tommy Thorn is to head up the kitchen at Puro restaurant in Somerset from next month.

Puro, owned by Dom and Alex Lamy, opened in 2017. Dom said: "We are absolutely over the moon to have Tommy joining us at Puro. He is an excellent chef with a good business mind and we cannot wait for him to get into the kitchen and start cooking. We have no doubt that Tommy will elevate the food at Puro to the best it's ever been, and how lucky for the people of Clevedon to have this right on their doorstep!"

Thorn added: "I'm delighted to be taking on a new concept with Puro. I've been talking with Dom for a long time now and we both have the same vision and goals when it comes to providing great food and service, we've got some really exciting ideas and can't wait to get stuck in and push to provide the best hospitality to the local area as well as keen diners.

"I feel like it's time that I take something hands on as my own and I love the opportunities that Puro has as an established restaurant. I'm keen to serve my food based on local and seasonal produce as well as influences from around the world which I find exciting when it comes to cooking."

Thorn has worked in restaurants including Thornbury Castle, Five Fields and Frog by Adam Handling. He was most recently head chef at the Michelin-green-starred The Ethecurian in Bristol.

He competed in Masterchef: The Professionals 2023, and was runner up to Tom Hamblet, sous chef at the Camellia restaurant at South Lodge hotel in Sussex.