Food Heroes
Ribble Valley hosts a wealth of culinary talent, with many amazing people involved offering outstanding food . Each dining experiences is a performance of excellence and here are just a few of our many Food Heroes.
Lisa Goodwin-Allen Northcote
Lisa Goodwin-Allen is one of the most innovative and exciting chefs in the UK today. With a host of TV appearances and awards to her name, including most recently, Chef of the Year at the 2023 Food and Travel Reader Awards, Lisa has managed to keep her feet firmly on the ground, despite her considerable success.
Born and raised in Lancashire, Lisa lives in the Ribble Valley. She became interested in cookery at school enjoying the opportunity to be creative and express herself. Her culinary career began at Lancaster & Morecambe College. After graduating, she worked in several prestigious restaurants.
It was when she came to one Michelin starred Ribble Valley restaurant Northcote that Lisa’s career quickly accelerated. She has been Executive Chef at Northcote since October 2017, joining the kitchen aged 20. After just a year, she became chef de partie and she was further promoted to junior sous chef the following year. Then at the age of 23, she was named head chef. At the time, she was one of the youngest chefs to take on the role in a Michelin starred kitchen.
Since then, Lisa has helped to maintain the restaurant’s Michelin Star which it has held for over 20 years. Northcote’s reputation has grown under her guidance.
Nigel Howarth Three Fishes
Nigel Haworth was the driving culinary force behind the Northcote for over three decades and now sits at the helm of The Three Fishes, where as chef patron he serves a sustainable farm-to-fork menu.
Nigel was born in Whalley, Lancashire, where his food roots remain to this today. From his initial training in Lancashire, he embarked on a culinary journey covering London, Scotland and Switzerland, before returning home to take over as Head Chef at Northcote Manor in 1984. By 1995, Nigel was celebrating the Egon Ronay Chef Of The Year award. Just a year later, he gained his first Michelin star.
As a chef, Nigel has helped define the path of modern British cooking through his championing of regional produce and traditional dishes, inspiring countless others to follow his local, seasonal model. He has also become a popular presence on TV with appearances on shows including Masterchef, Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen.
For more than three decades, Nigel was the driving culinary force behind Northcote. In that time, he transformed its unique location in the small village of Langho, Lancashire, into a place of gastronomic pilgrimage. Today, Nigel is still writing new chapters in his incredible story, with the opening of The Three Fishes in Mitton. Nigel also shares his extraordinary skills, knowledge and talent through partnerships with global brands and businesses, who rely on the expertise of the NH Brand to ensure similar success.
Maurizio Bocchi – La Locanda
Head chef Maurizio was born and grew up on the banks of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Here a young Maurizio cultivated his passion for good food and traditional ingredients – foraging for chestnuts and mushrooms on woodland walks with his grandmother, and helping his mother, who every morning would knead the flour from the local mill and collect eggs from the hen house to prepare fresh pasta for lunch. The young couple moved to Lancashire in 1996 where Maurizio had the opportunity to further his education at Myerscough College and advance his career at Carlo’s in Colne.
Chef Maurizio Bocchi said “For 20 years, my promise has been to create and serve a menu of Italian dishes passed down through generations to allow our lovely customers to immerse themselves into a truly Italian mealtime experience; giving a flavour of the culture, heritage, tradition and hospitality of the place we are so proud to call our home.” La Locanda has won many awards including the prestigious, Ospitalità Italiana, and it is often referred to as serving the ‘best Italian food outside Italy’ La Locanda is one of Ribble Valley’s many amazing culinary gems.
Today, its menu of handcrafted, authentic dishes showcase wonderful Lancashire produce along with the very best Italy has to offer.
Victor Yu – Yu Copster Green
Victor’s career started as a KP for his father Charlie Yu in 1989, before moving to front of house then starting in the kitchen as a chef at the age of 22. Combined with the skills learnt from his father, collaborations with other well- known chefs, and travels across Asia, Victor honed and refined his style, becoming head chef at 28.
After opening Yu & You in Horwich in 1989, the Yu’s opened the doors to the award-winning Copster Green in 2004. Winning “Best Chinese Restaurant” in the UK by Gordon Ramsey, the restaurant quickly earned a sterling reputation which has only grown in momentum over this past decade.
Mohammad Ali, owner of Shajan Indian restaurant has been in the Curry business since 1980 and established Shajan Indian Restaurant in 1992. It started off as a small 85 seater and due to its increased popularity has been extended three times to its current 205 capacity excluding the lounge. It has been nominated and won the BCA best Indian restaurant in the north west twice in a row. The Shajan motto is not to compromise on quality, service and value for money.
Shajan Indian restaurant regularly wins ‘Best Caterer of the Year’ title in the national Bangladesh Caterers Association’s food awards.
Breda Murphy: A Culinary Gem in the Ribble Valley
Breda Murphy prides itself on its commitment to using the freshest locally sourced ingredients in the production of tasty, quality and handmade food.
Their purpose-built site on Mitton Road Business Park is home to their retail food shop and production kitchen, serving customers both locally and nationwide. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Breda Murphy offers an unforgettable taste of quality, handmade food.
All dishes are lovingly prepared in small batches, with a strong focus on restaurant-quality meals that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, air b&b or holiday home. Choose from a variety of portion sizes—ideal for individuals, couples, families, or entertaining larger groups—with both fresh and frozen options available.
Upon entering the shop, you’re instantly greeted by the irresistible aromas of freshly baked bread, roasting sirloin beef, and warm sausage rolls straight from the kitchen. Locals drop in to pick up daily specials, grab a fresh Irish soda loaf, or enjoy a relaxing coffee and chat at the picnic benches outside.
From picnic boxes and lunches on the go to indulgent sweet treats like gluten free friand cake, gooey chocolate brownies, and their iconic Bakewell tart, there’s something for everyone. The dessert counter alone is worth the visit!
Whether you’re passing through for a quick coffee or staying in the valley for a longer break, Breda Murphy can cater to all your food needs. Come experience why this local treasure is a firm favourite—once you visit, you’ll want to return. www.bredamurphy.co.uk
Ian Kershaw – Executive Chef- Joules – Mytton Fold
Executive Chef Ian Kershaw has been with the company over three years, heading up the kitchen team and growing the offerings throughout the hotel and restaurant. The inclusion of Jules restaurant and its unique settings has allowed the kitchen and team
to create a brand-new extensive menu offering, incorporating a mix of classic and refined dishes, featuring bold flavours and seasonal produce.
With the upcoming plans and vision for Mytton Fold Hotel and Jules restaurant, the future is looking bright. Ian and the entire Mytton Fold team hope to create a restaurant that becomes a real destination to many, offering a little bit of the city, right here in the Ribble Valley.
Michael Vanheste and Zoe McCaig at Greendale Teahouse & Rooms.
At Greendale Teahouse & Rooms, it’s all about simple pleasures, done exceptionally well. Tucked into the beautiful Ribble Valley and close to the picturesque village of Downham, Greendale Teahouse & Rooms is run by Michael Vanheste and Zoe McCaig. Two chefs who swapped Michelin-starred kitchens for a more relaxed kind of magic and eloquently supported by Zoe’s mum and stepdad – the small team is a proper family business. Michael brings nearly twenty years of experience in some of the country’s finest restaurants and cookery schools, while Zoe, a trained chocolatier and former pastry chef at the three Michelin-starred Moor Hall, brings her exquisite touch to all things sweet. Together, they craft everything in-house; from breads and soups to cakes, pastries and scones, celebrating local ingredients, traditional skills, and a warm welcome that feels like coming home.”
