Matt Gillan to leave The Pass

Exclusive Hotels and Venues has announced that Matt Gillan will be leaving The Pass restaurant at South Lodge following a decade at the 5-star country house hotel near Horsham, West Sussex.

Matt joined the 2 AA Rosette Camellia restaurant at South Lodge in 2006 and was given the opportunity to launch The Pass in 2008. During Matt’s tenure, The Pass has won and retained a Michelin star for five years along with 4 AA Rosettes.

Matt commented: “My decision to leave hasn’t been an easy one. South Lodge and the Exclusive team have given me an incredible platform at The Pass to showcase my skills and creativity and I feel enormously privileged and proud to have achieved so much throughout my ten years. I shall be very sad to say goodbye but the time is now right for me to move on and I am looking forward to my next venture. ” Matt hasn’t yet revealed where he will be moving to.

Last year, Matt competed in the finals of BBC’s Great British Menu, where he served his dish Teaching and Preaching’ at the banquet. This dish made Great British Menu history as he scored 10s across the board.

>>> Read: Chef Matt Gillan wins Great British Menu main course

Danny Pecorelli, Managing Director of Exclusive Hotels and Venues added, “We are really proud of Matt and have enjoyed watching his raw talent and ambition develop over the years into the incredible chef he is today. Matt’s experimental originality and playful showmanship has secured The Pass’s reputation as a vibrant destination restaurant, so I’ve no doubt of his future success and wish him all the very best.”

Exclusive Hotels and Venues has a track record for attracting award-winning talented chefs including Matt Worswick at Pennyhill Park, Olly Rouse at Lainston House, Rob Potter at The Manor House and former head chef of The Camellia at South Lodge and winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2013, Steven Edwards.

Matt will remain at The Pass until the end of April 2016, and it is yet to be announced who will be replacing him.