Simon Rogan awarded MBE

Chef-restaurateur Simon Rogan has been awarded an MBE for services to the food industry in the 2024 New Year's honours list. 

Rogan launched his debut restaurant L'Enclume, which holds three Michelin stars, in 2002. Located in the Lake District village of Cartmel, Rogan's concept captured the attention of the nation's culinary elite for its pioneering efforts within the farm-to-fork movement. The chef's hyper-seasonal and sustainable approach to sourcing ingredients stemmed from an early decision to grow his own ingredients on local farmland, before establishing his own farm, 'Our Farm', in 2011, just a mile down the road from L'Enclume in the Cartmel Valley. 

Now entering his 22nd year as a restaurateur, Rogan owns and operates four outlets in the Lake District and a further six worldwide, including restaurants in Hong Kong, Malta and most recently Thailand. In 2022, L'Enclume was awarded its third Michelin star, making it one of only eight restaurants in the UK to hold the accolade and the only three-star restaurant in the North of England. 

L'Enclume also holds a green Michelin star for its commitment to sustainability, recognised for growing most of its produce on 'Our Farm', whilst working towards becoming a closed-loop system – including an ongoing mission to eradicate food waste. 

"It is a great honour to be recognised with an MBE and I'm proud to have made an impact on the hospitality landscape, all of which would not have been possible without my amazing team," says the chef.

"The British dining scene has changed a lot in the last 20 years, and it has been invigorating to be a part of that, namely raising the profile of the 'farm-to-fork way of growing and eating, and hopefully inspiring others to follow suit. I believe that promoting our incredible produce and farmers in the Lake District has an important, long-lasting effect on the whole industry which will support British agriculture for years to come.

"Looking ahead at the next decade, I will strive to continue learning and building on our philosophy further whilst focusing on paying it forward, such as through the Simon Rogan Academy, which provides opportunities for future generations of aspiring young chefs and front-of-house – our work is never done."

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