TV chef signs lease at King of Prussia

TV chef Phil Vickery has boosted the profile of pub cuisine after becoming lessee at the 70-cover King of Prussia at Farnham Royal, Berkshire. The Michelin starred chef, who also appears regularly on Ready Steady Cook and This Morning TV shows, has signed a long lease with a private landlord at the pub, which offers classic British cuisine with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. Vickery, who has also teamed up with brewer Shepherd Neame to promote its Local Food From Local People' campaign, said that he was "tired" of fine dining cuisine and had enjoyed a return to traditional fayre. Vickery said: "I cooked at top hotels and restaurants for 20 years but I'd much rather have a steak and chips in a relaxed pub environment. "Pubs are the backbone of our society and their food offer is improving all the time." Sample fayre at the King of Prussia includes lamb shank, steak and chips and duck legs. Vickery is assisted at the establishment by head chef Andrew Knight.