James Martin's Biography

James was brought up in a farmhouse in Yorkshire and was discovered by Antony Worrall Thompson whilst training at Scarborough Technical College.  Antony brought him to London to work in the kitchens of 190 Queensgate, followed by dell 'Ugo and then onto 2 and 3 star Michelin restaurants in Italy and France. At 21 he was Head Chef at the renowned Hotel du Vin in Winchester where he decided to settle.

Ever since his debut appearance on television in November 1996, James has rarely been off the screen. Apart from 'Ready Steady Cook' and his ninth series on UK Food, he is also resident Chef on BBC 1's daily show, 'Housecall', and is the presenter on ITV's 'Out of the Frying Pan'.

The Bistro is something that James is extremely passionate about and has been involved with since the very beginning. From the creation of the menu and training of the chefs, to choosing the cutlery and perfecting the ambience of the restaurant, James has considered every element.

James said - 'We've managed to take the Bistro further than I ever expected and I look forward to pushing the boundaries again, as we continue to refresh and update the menus introducing even more choice'.

I hope you enjoy your meal!