Andrew O'Connor is retiring from professional kitchens after 22 years

Head chef at The Full Moon pub in Hawridge Andrew O'Connor is retiring from professional kitchens after 22 years

The chef said that after more than two decades, it is time for him to "hang up his chef whites and apron" and take a break from the industry, to focus on his family, children, and horses. His last shift will be on March 13th.

Andrew has been working at The Full Moon pub for three years, which he said saw him taking on "the sh******t of food and shabby beer trade" to turn the Buckinghamshire site into a "destination" public house.

In a social media post announcing his departure, he said: "The time has come and I shall be leaving my post as head chef, not only that as I'm also hanging up my chef whites and apron and taking time out of the industry."

"Time to visit and travel to lots of places I've not been before."

For the past 22 years, he added, "I've given my all to the hospitality industry and lost a lot of family & friends over those years," leading to his the decision to take a break to focus on them for awhile.

"Time for some beers. Cheers."

Over the course of his career as a chef, which began when he was 16, the chef has worked everywhere from Lincolnshire, to the Republic of Ireland the Isles of Scilly, most recently at Juliet's Garden restaurant. Aside from being a chef, Andrew is a racehorse syndicate owner. 

The Full Moon in Hawridge is a the 16th century coaching inn owned and run by husband and wife Phil and Hannah Matthews, which they took over in 2017 and relaunched after refurbishments, serving elevated pub fayre using high-quality local produce.