Brian Turner (chef)
Encyclopedia
Brian Turner CBE
(born 7 May 1946 in Halifax
, West Riding of Yorkshire
) is a British
chef
, based in London
. He has appeared as a cook on BBC2's Ready Steady Cook
since 1994 as well as presenting other cookery programmes.
, both under Richard Shepard. Turner then went to "Beau Rivage Palace" in Lausanne
, returning to England to work at Claridge's
and then in 1971 the Capital Hotel where Turner and Richard Shepherd earned a Michelin star. In early 1973 he took some time to work as a Chef Lecturer. Turner then took over as Chef de Cuisine in 1975 after Shepard left, and then launched the Greenhouse Restaurant and the Metro Wine Bar. Among the chefs who worked with Turner at the Capital were Gary Rhodes
and Shaun Hill.
In 1986 Turner opened his own restaurant Turner's, in Walton Street, Knightsbridge
, London. He ran this until 2001, when it was sold. In February 2002 Brian Turner's Restaurant opened at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Birmingham
's NEC
, and in April 2003 launched Brian Turner Mayfair at the Millennium Hotel, London. January 2005 saw the launch of Turner's Grill at The Copthorne Hotel Slough
-Windsor
. Brian Turner Mayfair closed at the end of July 2008, to be replaced by an Italian restaurant unconnected to Turner.
In 2003 he invented the 'Brian Turner - S & C' which is a snack food.
's This Morning
. He is still a cook on BBC2's Ready Steady Cook
which he joined in 1994 as well as presenting other cookery programmes including his own BBC series "Anything You Can Cook".
Catey Award
for 'Chef of the Year' as well as the 'Wedgwood Award' for outstanding services to the hospitality industry.
Turner has been the Chairman of the Academy of Culinary Arts for nine years and is the chairman of the UK Hospitality Skills Board. He has also been awarded an Honorary Professorship of Thames Valley University
because of his work and commitment to The London School of Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure and catering education in general.
On 15 June 2002 in the Queen's Birthday Honours, Turner was awarded a CBE
for his services to tourism and training in the catering industry.
in 2006, Brian Turner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University
for his services to Hospitality & Catering. Brian is a former alumnus of the Leeds College of Food Technology a predecessor College of Leeds Metropolitan University
.
In 2008, Brian Turner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University
for his services to catering.
Brian Turner has also appeared on Daily Cooks Challenge where two cooks prepare different dishes for a celebrity guest.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 7 May 1946 in Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
, based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He has appeared as a cook on BBC2's Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host...
since 1994 as well as presenting other cookery programmes.
Career
Turner's mentor was the food writer and broadcaster Michael Smith. Turner trained at various hotels and restaurants, including Simpson's in the Strand and The Savoy GrillSavoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by...
, both under Richard Shepard. Turner then went to "Beau Rivage Palace" in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, returning to England to work at Claridge's
Claridge's
Claridge's is a luxury hotel in Mayfair, central London. It is located at the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street.-History:Claridge's is a traditional grand hotel. Its extensive and old connections with royalty have led to it being referred to as an "extension to Buckingham Palace"...
and then in 1971 the Capital Hotel where Turner and Richard Shepherd earned a Michelin star. In early 1973 he took some time to work as a Chef Lecturer. Turner then took over as Chef de Cuisine in 1975 after Shepard left, and then launched the Greenhouse Restaurant and the Metro Wine Bar. Among the chefs who worked with Turner at the Capital were Gary Rhodes
Gary Rhodes
Gary Rhodes OBE is an English restaurateur, cookery writer, and chef, known for his love of British cuisine and distinctive spiked hair style ....
and Shaun Hill.
In 1986 Turner opened his own restaurant Turner's, in Walton Street, Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London. He ran this until 2001, when it was sold. In February 2002 Brian Turner's Restaurant opened at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
's NEC
NEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
, and in April 2003 launched Brian Turner Mayfair at the Millennium Hotel, London. January 2005 saw the launch of Turner's Grill at The Copthorne Hotel Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
-Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
. Brian Turner Mayfair closed at the end of July 2008, to be replaced by an Italian restaurant unconnected to Turner.
In 2003 he invented the 'Brian Turner - S & C' which is a snack food.
TV work
Turner worked for many years as resident chef on Granada TelevisionGranada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
's This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
. He is still a cook on BBC2's Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host...
which he joined in 1994 as well as presenting other cookery programmes including his own BBC series "Anything You Can Cook".
Awards and honours
In 1997 Turner was awarded the Craft Guild of Chef's Special Award for achievement within the industry together with the Caterer and hotelkeeperCaterer and hotelkeeper
Caterer and Hotelkeeper is a weekly magazine for hospitality professionals. Published since 1878, Caterer and Hotelkeeper is part of the Caterer Group which also includes the Caterer Search website and various industry events....
Catey Award
The Catey Awards
First occurring in 1984, the Caterer and Hotelkeeper awards, or Cateys, are a UK award ceremony for the hospitality industry. They have been described as the hospitality industry's equivalent of the Oscars....
for 'Chef of the Year' as well as the 'Wedgwood Award' for outstanding services to the hospitality industry.
Turner has been the Chairman of the Academy of Culinary Arts for nine years and is the chairman of the UK Hospitality Skills Board. He has also been awarded an Honorary Professorship of Thames Valley University
Thames Valley University
The University of West London is a public university based in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in Ealing and Brentford, London, and Reading, Berkshire....
because of his work and commitment to The London School of Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure and catering education in general.
On 15 June 2002 in the Queen's Birthday Honours, Turner was awarded a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his services to tourism and training in the catering industry.
in 2006, Brian Turner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
for his services to Hospitality & Catering. Brian is a former alumnus of the Leeds College of Food Technology a predecessor College of Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
.
In 2008, Brian Turner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
for his services to catering.
Brian Turner has also appeared on Daily Cooks Challenge where two cooks prepare different dishes for a celebrity guest.