Chef Nigel Haworth has been global ambassador for Northcote since October 2017 and was previously chef-patron and joint Managing Director for 33 years. As the driving force behind Northcote for more than three decades, he put Northcote and the Ribble Valley on the culinary map with his championing of regional British produce and modern and traditional British dishes. Nigel’s approach formed the template for what has become known as modern British cooking, inspiring countless chefs across the country to follow his local, seasonal model. From humble beginnings as a student at Accrington and Rossendale Catering College, on leaving college Nigel began his career at the Royal Berkshire Hotel in Ascot, London’s Grosvenor Hotel, Gleneagles Hotel, before spending five years in Switzerland, working at the Palace and Schwiezerhof Hotels in Lucerne and the Mont Cervin in Zermatt to name a few. On his return from Switzerland he spent an 18-month sojourn as lecturer at Accrington and Rossendale college. Nigel then took the head chef’s job at Northcote Manor (as it was then known) in 1984 and won a Michelin star in 1994, Egon Ronay Chef of the Year in 1995 and four AA rosettes in 2010.
In addition to retaining a Michelin star for over 20 years, in 2017 Northcote was named AA Hotel of the Year and Nigel was given the Special Award at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards. He has become a popular, jovial presence on British TV screens with appearances on shows such as Secret Chef, Yes Chef, Saturday Kitchen, Market Kitchen, Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds and a winning appearance on the 2009 series of Great British Menu. Nigel has mentored many chefs at Northcote who have gone on to great success, to name but a few, Mark Birchall (chef proprietor Moor Hall, Lancashire), Nelly Robinson (chef proprietor Restaurant Nel. Sydney) and his own son Kirk Haworth who runs the plant based food restaurant Plates.
Nigel began Obsession in the year 2000 and continues to drive and oversee it to this present day. Obsession is one of the highlights of the UK’s gastronomic calendar. As well as attracting culinary talent from all over the world to come and cook at Northcote, he has recently been travelling the world in reciprocation to chefs that have cooked at Obsession.
He started the year at Auberge Restaurant in Carmel, California, cooking at their famous Gourmet Fest with chef Justin Cogley, from there to London and Dubai cooking with Atul Kochar, then travelling to Ireland to cook with good friend and chef Richard Corrigan, at Virginia Park Lodge in County Cavan, Ireland. Then back east flying into Malta and Gozo to cook at the Ta Franc restaurant.
Nigel sums up his new role as global ambassador, saying: “It certainly hasn’t been a quiet time, but it has allowed  me to spend time with my family and think about the new chapters that lie ahead.”