THE catering team at the Castle Hotel, Conwy is celebrating a double culinary success.

For while Leigh Marshall has been named head chef of the year in the Coaching Inn Group’s annual awards, his colleague Jonathan Richmond Jones has won the sous chef of the year accolade.

Leigh said: “Jonathan and I have worked together for years, so to both be recognised for our catering contributions at the same time is very rewarding.”

Leigh, aged 32, joined the hotel as a chef du partie aged 19 after attending catering college. A highlight of his early career came a couple of years later when, representing the Welsh Catering Association, he with colleagues won double bronze medals at the World Culinary Championships in Luxembourg.

Leigh was promoted to head chef six years ago and the team was later joined by Jonathan, also aged 32, who worked his way up from kitchen porter to sous chef and now serves as Leigh’s right hand man. He said: “It’s hard work, pretty full on at times, but we all enjoy a great camaraderie”.

Coaching Inn Group executive chef Dave Simms said Leigh was constantly adapting the menu to take account of the latest trends while maintaining excellent quality standards.