Masterchef lifts pub's trade
A Leicestershire pub has seen trade boosted by the appearance of its young chef on TV's Masterchef: The Professionals.
The success of Stacey Warr, 22, on the popular BBC2 show has created a buzz among customers at the Blue Lion pub in Witherley, Leicestershire, where Warr works.
"My boss put cards on all the tables telling customers about my appearance on Masterchef, and we've had plenty of people coming in to try the food," she said.
Warr is one of the youngest contestants to appear on the programme, and saw off thousands of other professional chefs for the chance to cook for Michel Roux Jr. The ultimate prize is a chance to work at Roux Jr's Le Gavroche restaurant in London.
Warr studied catering for four years at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College. She was just 21 and working at the Waterman Inn, Hatton, Warwickshire, when the programme was filmed earlier this year.
Having moved to the Blue Lion, her TV appearances have helped persuade the pub to allow Warr to flex her culinary muscles.
She said: "Since I appear-ed on the show I've been given more scope to do my own thing."
John Calton, of the Duke of Wellington in Newton, Northumberland, also made it to the final stages of the competition.
Viewers were due to find out this week if Warr made it to the show's final.
