- Gilpin's Tom Westerland goes head-to-head in the Welsh heats for Great British Menu
- The Welsh Regional Heats will air on BBC Two from 14th - 16th February

Welsh/Cumbrian-based Chef Tom 'Westy' Westerland will be back on screens this February, as he competes in the Welsh heats of BBC Two's popular cooking competition, Great British Menu.

Westy will represent Wales alongside Georgia Sommerin, Head Chef at Home in Penarth, Mark Threadgill, Head Chef at Portmeirion Hotel and Simmie Vedi, former Head Chef at Bully's in Cardiff, as the Welsh nation's finest chefs battle it out in the hope of securing a place in the next stage of the competition.  

Since he last featured on the show four years ago when he got as far as the judging chamber, the experimental chef has honed his love of fun and cooking over fire. He will be sharing some innovative, new dishes with his veteran judge and aiming to get through to cook for the judges - Tom Kerridge with a total of 3 Michelin stars, Restaurateur Nisha Katona and comedian and food podcast host Ed Gamble - in this year's competition themed around the 65th anniversary of Paddington Bear. 

“I'm afraid you'll just have to wait and see how far I go this time around,” he says. 

“Since my last appearance on the show, my cooking style has developed and changed a lot, as has the way I tackle the challenges. I have found a love for cooking over fire and the fun elements of food, which you probably didn't see as much last time I was on the show. I'm looking forward to seeing what the viewers think of my dishes.” 

Season 18 kicked off on Tuesday, January 31 with a fresh batch of new and returning chefs, all with top industry accolades to their name, hoping to wow the judges.  

For the 2023 series, the theme is inspired by animation and illustration to celebrate Paddington's 65th birthday. Viewers have already seen four chefs from the North East and South West of England pitted against one another in the initial regional heats.  

Episodes featuring Tom 'Westy' Westerland air for three consecutive nights on 14, 15 and 16 February 2023.  

All episodes to date are available on BBC iPlayer.  

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Editor's notes  

Although at the time of filming he was based in the south of England, Westy has recently moved to the Lake District, to take on a new role of head chef of one of three restaurants at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, where he brings his unique style of cooking to a brand-new restaurant at the property - Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House.  

In January 2023, Gilpin Hotel & Lake House announced the appointment of three new high-profile chefs. 

Ollie Bridgwater (ex 3 Michelin Starred Fat Duck), Aakash Ohol (ex 1 Michelin Starred HRiSHi), and Tom 'Westy' Westerland (ex 1 Michelin Starred Lucknam Park) each oversee the kitchen at one of the property's three onsite restaurants. These are the Michelin-starred HRiSHi (to be rebranded SOURCE) and Gilpin Spice – both at Gilpin Hotel – and the newly opened Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House, respectively.  

From January, the chefs have begun to put their own stamp, creativity, and cooking techniques into practice: developing entirely new menus for the restaurants while also committing to more sustainable practices at every stage of the food production process. At Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House, Westy has created an entirely new menu that showcases the region's finest produce, while of course injecting the fun, innovation and sense of humour that as a chef, he is becoming renowned for. 

Though the aim is to create three very different restaurants, headed up by three very different chefs, they will work together, sharing the same vision, commitment, passion and values, built on sustainable sourcing with low to no food miles and supporting local producers.  

Westy's restaurant, Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House, is open to residents and non-residents of the hotel. 

To make a reservation visit: https://thegilpin.co.uk/eat-and-drink/knipe-grill-at-gilpin-lake-house/     

Images Courtesy of BBC - pictures from the show are available for press on www.bbcpictures.co.uk.