Matthew Whitfield to head up The Terrace restaurant at The Montagu Arms

He will join the restaurant from three-Michelin starred Eleven Madison Park in New York, a previous number one on the World’s Best Restaurant list.

The Terrace previously held a Michelin star under former chef Matthew Tomkinson from 2009 until it underwent a major refurbishment in 2016.

Whitfield, whose first goal is to win back the star, has worked for a succession of Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe including the two-star Sea Grill in Belgium and the one-star Driftwood restaurant in Cornwall, where he was head chef.

He previously worked at The Montagu Arms six years ago, where he held the position of head pastry chef.

Whitfield’s new menu will champion modern British food. “I am thrilled to be joining The Montagu Arms, and have great plans for the future,” he says.

“It is a dream to return to The Terrace. Matt has done an amazing job, and my goal is to build on all that he has achieved – I’d love to regain the restaurant’s Michelin star.”

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Matthew to the Terrace restaurant,” says James Hiley-Jones, managing director of Greenclose Hotels, which owns The Montagu Arms.

“It is a rare thing for a chef of this calibre to choose to work outside London. He comes to us fresh from one of the best restaurants in the world, after many years building his skills and reputation at a succession of incredible establishments.

“We now look forward to exciting times ahead under Matthew Whitfield, a passionate and extraordinarily talented chef with big plans for the future of the Terrace.”

Matthew Tomkinson left The Montagu Arms earlier this year having spent 10 years at the helm of The Terrace. He will join The Kings Head in Whiteparish, Wiltshire, as chef patron and will launch restaurant Betony on 21 March.