Tebbutt, who has featured in a long list of food programmes, also owned and ran the award-winning Foxhunter pub in Monmouthshire, south Wales, for 13 years before selling it in 2015.
The television chef and presenter spoke of how honoured he was to take on the role of hosting the event, which was previously presented by fellow celebrity chef Tom Kerridge.
Tebbutt told The Morning Advertiser (MA): “It’s really, really exciting to think I will be announcing the list of the UK’s very best gastropubs at the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs this year and presenting the awards for the specialist categories too.
“I have nothing but respect and admiration for these talented and passionate chefs who are showing the world exactly the sort of food pubs in the UK are capable of producing."
List will impress
He added: “It was really exciting to see who made last year’s list and to find out where we should be eating if we want to try some exciting British cuisine. I know the list this year is going to be just as impressive.”
Tebbutt’s cooking pedigree was founded in London at Leith’s School of Food and Fine wine, where he completed a diploma and set his sights on some of the best restaurants in the world.
It then became a true baptism of fire, in the form of a traineeship with renowned Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White at the Oak Room and then the Criterion.
The chef then moved to the kitchens of Chez Bruce, where he worked under the tutelage of Bruce Poole.
A stint with Sally Clarke at her Kensington restaurant, Clarke, imbued Tebbutt with the skill of making bread.
Talented and intelligent
MA food and drink editor Nicholas Robinson said: “Matt Tebbutt is a very talented and intelligent chef who has eaten and cooked in some of the UK’s best establishments – including his own pub.
“It’s great to have him on board at the only event that celebrates the best gastropubs the UK has to offer – the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs.”
The specialist awards this year will recognise the best newcomer, best front-of-house team, highest climber, gastrochef of the year and ones to watch.
For more information about the Top 50 Gastropubs list 2016, visit www.top50gastropubs.com.