JOHN Hooker at the Cornish Arms in Tavistock has been named the Chef of the Year 2016 in the Trencherman’s Awards.

The Trencherman’s Guide is the longest standing guide to dining in the South West, having been running for 23 years.

Readers of the guide voted in their thousands in the annual awards, with John making the shortlist for the chef of the year category.

During a glitzy ceremony at Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurant on November 9, John was announced as the winner of the award.

It is the latest in a series of awards for the chef, whose enterprise has been at number 21 in the 50 top gastro pubs in the country for the last two years and in the Michelin’s top 50 pubs.

John, who has been a chef for 18 years, said the award was a credit to his team past and present who had helped the pub go from strength to strength since he took it on two and a half years ago.

‘I wanted to bring the pub back to its former glory and it now brings people in from far and wide even though it is still very much a local pub.

‘I employ 25 people who all live in the area and I am absolutely honoured and humbled to get an award in the Trencherman’s Guide as it is very prestigious.

‘I am truly overwhelmed and I would like to thank the support I get from my team, my wife and the people of Tavistock.’