His career has spanned stints in Switzerland, Sharrow Bay Hotel, Ullswater, The Connaught in Mayfair, London and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.

At the age of 29 he opened his eponymous restaurant in Longridge, Preston. Within two years he had been awarded his first Michelin and Egon Ronay stars along with The Good Food Guide’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’. Within a week of the restaurant’s second anniversary, he was nominated ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in the Catey Awards. In the same year Charles Heidsieck Champagne Guide voted Paul Heathcotes as ‘one of the best restaurants in the world’.

The 1994 Egon Ronay Guide awarded Paul ‘Chef of the Year’ and Michelin gave him a second star, an accolade bestowed on eight restaurants in the UK, Heathcotes still being the only one in the North West and a second Catey Award in 1997 for Independent Restaurateur of the Year.

Paul has 2 restaurants: his original Olive Press Preston serving Italian grills, pizza & pasta, and Heathcotes Brasserie cooking French & British cuisine.

Paul has been awarded three Honorary Fellowships from Liverpool John Moores University, Lancashire University & his home town Bolton University in recognition of his achievements in catering.

Paul has published two cookbooks, Rhubarb & Blackpudding and Heathcotes at Home, writes columns to a number of regional newspapers and magazines and also appears regularly on TV.

Paul chairs the North’s Academy of Culinary Arts, Adopt-a-School, encouraging the traditions of his profession and is also a fundraiser for Childline & the NSPCC, Fashion Kicks and Youth Zone.

In 2009 he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to the Hospitality Industry. In 2013 he launched Heathcote & Co, a new events and outside catering company that has so far catered for, amongst others, the prestigious Manchester International Festival and is the official caterer of Bolton Wanderers FC and Bolton Whites Hotel.

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MIF13: Gary Kasparov vs. The Machine

by | Jul 19, 2013 | MIF, Paul's Blog

It was a balmy evening last night and it was nice to see so many people came down to Festival Square to enjoy the warm weather. Many attendees of last night’s Goldfrapp concert visited after the show to sit down with a glass of wine and one of our special Heathcote’s gourmet burgers. Among them was Craig Potter, keyboard player in the Mercury award-winning rock band Elbow. The cast and crew of The Machine also visited. The Machine is a play about chess legend Gary Kasparov’s 1997 defeat to the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue, and it premiered at Manchester International Festival earlier this month. You can read more about it here. They were enjoying glasses of rose whilst dancing away to Rob Da Bank’s DJ set. Other festival-goers last night included a smattering of students who have just graduated from University in Manchester. They seemed to be having a great time! Over the past three weeks we’ve had great support from our brewery, Thwaites, who delivered some wonderful cask ales including the specially brewed Festival Ale that we’ve tapped and vented ready for tomorrow – our last evening on the square. It’s been a fantastic festival. Check our what’s been happening on the MIF programme here. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the action at Festival Square....

MIF13: Haçienda and Factory Records

by | Jul 17, 2013 | MIF, Paul's Blog

Saturday Night on Festival Square was fantastic. Festival goers were treated to an amazing atmosphere with wonderful food and drink and brilliant music. Dave Haslam, the legendary DJ who made his name with over 450 sets at the Haçienda in Manchester, performed in the Pavilion Theatre. Dave told me he loved our Tuna Burger – he’s a Pescetarian – and our selection of Fentiman’s Botanical Beverages, particularly the Lemonade and Ginger Beer. Whilst Dave was DJing, I also managed to speak with Peter Saville, the graphic designer responsible for many of Factory Records CD covers and record sleeves. As we talked about food outside, Dave’s last track, Love Will Tear Us Apart Again by Joy Division, started playing and Peter was dragged into the Pavilion by a crowd of people. Peter designed many of Joy Division’s album and single covers, including the cover for that single. He was pushed next to the stage with Dave and sang along for what seemed like about 10 minutes straight! Dave Haslam is performing again this Saturday – you can find more information here, and you can see a full guide for upcoming events at Manchester International Festival here. Join in our conversations about Manchester International Festival on Twitter and Facebook....

MIF13: Speaking with Mike Kearsey

by | Jul 16, 2013 | Paul's Blog

Working with Heathcote & Co at Manchester International Festival, I’ve had the pleasure of talking to some wonderfully talented musicians, actors and performers on Festival Square in the heart of the city. Last night it was great to have a chat and a pint with Mike Kearsey. You may know Mike as the Trombone player in Madness. He was at the festival performing a tribute concert celebrating the life of Steve Martland in the Pavilion theatre on Festival Square. Steve was a brilliant classical music composer who sadly died earlier this year at the age of just 53. Mike told me he had flown in specifically for the gig, having performed with Robbie Williams on tour in Amsterdam the night before, and was due to return to the tour for their next gig in Austria on Wednesday! Despite how busy he was, Mike was still able to enjoy some of our food on the Square – he says he’s a big fan of the sushi! You can find more information about this wonderful tribute to Steve Martland here, and see a full guide for upcoming events at Manchester International Festival here. Join in our conversations about Manchester International Festival on Twitter and Facebook....