Steven Lamb is the new head chef at The Orangery at Rockcliffe

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor

Stevie Lamb has been named head chef at The Orangery at Rockcliffe in Darlington, County Durham.

Originally from Lancashire, Stevie moved to the North East of England in 2013, joining The Orangery as a junior chef de partie in 2016. 

He was promoted and named head chef in January 2022, and will continue to work at the three AA Rosette Rockliffe restaurant under executive resort chef Martin Horsley.

Upon taking on his new role, the chef said: “My passion for food has been present since an early age. This dedication has developed a life-long drive to achieve my professional goals including being awarded three AA Rosettes as my first accolade, and ultimately, I hope to earn a Michelin Star."

Inspired by the skills and techniques of today's great chefs, Gareth Ward, Tommy Banks and Paul Leonard, Stevie said he is eager to make the best use of local ingredients, championing sustainability as well as experimenting with the illusion of food and sensory cooking techniques.

He will do so by continuing to grow the estate's kitchen garden, as well as foraging in the local woodlands, creating dishes showcasing the best the North of England has to offer.

“I like simple food, done well – not overly complex or fussy – yet showcasing modern, creative culinary techniques,” he said.

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall  – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor 31st January 2022

Steven Lamb is the new head chef at The Orangery at Rockcliffe