Mark Birchall
Chef Patron, Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms and The Barn at Moor Hall
At the age of 14 I knew I wanted to be a chef and throughout my career I have gained invaluable experience in Europe's most innovative, creative and respected restaurants
Mark was born in Chorley, Lancashire and trained at Runshaw College. From the age of 14, he knew he wanted to be a chef. Before becoming Chef/Patron of Moor Hall and guiding it to three-Michelin-star status, Mark spent twenty years honing his knowledge and skills in a number of prestigious restaurants, including Executive Chef of L’Enclume and a stage at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, which has twice been voted the World’s Best Restaurant. He also won a Roux Scholarship in 2011.
“Throughout my career I have gained invaluable experience in Europe’s most innovative, restaurants, working alongside the most revered culinary minds. Now in a kitchen of my own, I learn from my team of chefs, gardeners and front of house, as well as the growers and producers around the country. It is this willingness to constantly develop, paired with a continued passion for produce, process and people, that drives me forward.
The stars, rosettes and accolades proud achievements, and I will always strive to make things better. However, in the end, it is the comfort and enjoyment of our guests that is the ultimate focus of everything we do here. It’s about making people want to come back. We want them to feel like they don’t want to leave, and that, when they reluctantly do, they are already planning their return visit.
When I set out on my Moor Hall journey with business partners Andy and Tracey Bell, we shared a vision to bring together the very best surroundings with an unrivalled dining experience. I truly believe, that in the short space of time since we opened our doors, we have delivered just that.
Awards and accolades
Awards and Accolades for Moor Hall and Mark Birchall
Moor Hall is awarded three MICHELIN Stars
Mark Birchall crowned ‘Chef of the Year’ at the National Restaurant Awards and gains the ‘Chef Award’ at The Cateys.
Mark Birchall added to judging panel at The National Chef of The Year
Mark Birchall named as an honorary judge for The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
Mark Birchall is awarded a Two-knife status at The Best Chef Awards 2025
Moor Hall is awarded Two Michelin Keys in the Michelin Hotel Guide
Moor Hall wins Best Wine List in England and overall in the AA Awards 2024.
Moor Hall crowned ‘Best Restaurant in England’ for a second consecutive year at The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards.
Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms one of just three restaurants in the country given a ‘World Class’ rating in The Good Food Guide: Top 20 Most Exciting Restaurants of 2022
Mark Birchall named as ‘Best Chef in the UK’ after winning the Chefs’ Chef of the Year award at the AA Hospitality Awards.
Moor Hall crowned ‘Best Restaurant in England’ at the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards
The Barn at Moor Hall awarded its first MICHELIN star
Moor Hall awarded a MICHELIN Green Star for efforts in sustainability
Moor Hall retains title of the UK’s Best Restaurant at The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards
Moor Hall named ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at the Lancashire Tourism Awards
The Barn at Moor Hall awarded 3 AA Rosettes
Moor Hall retains title of the UK’s Best Restaurant at The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, from 2019 (no ceremony in 2020)
Moor Hall crowned as the UK’s Best Restaurant at The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards
Moor Hall achieves a #5 ranking and cooking score of 9/10 in the Waitrose Good Food Guide
Moor Hall achieves a #5 ranking in Harden’s Best UK Restaurants
Moor Hall awarded Special Achievement of the Year at the Lancashire Life Food & Drink Awards
Moor Hall named as Square Meal’s ‘Best UK Restaurant’ and Best Restaurant; Best British Restaurant & Best Breakfast at the Book-a-Table Diner Awards
Moor Hall gets a 94/100 scoring on La Liste, based on the compilation of hundreds of guidebooks and millions of online reviews globally
The Barn at Moor Hall given a MICHELIN Plate accreditation
Moor Hall awarded two MICHELIN stars
Moor Hall awarded 4 AA Rosettes in January, and then 5 AA Rosettes in September
The Barn at Moor Hall achieves a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand
The Barn at Moor Hall awarded 2 AA Rosettes
Mark Birchall wins Chef of the Year at the Lancashire Life Food & Drink Awards
Moor Hall named as Best Breakthrough Restaurant in the GQ Food and Drink Awards
The Barn at Moor Hall named Best Newcomer at Lancashire Life’s Food & Drink Awards
Moor Hall is awarded its first MICHELIN star, within six months of opening
Moor Hall awarded 3 AA Rosettes
Moor Hall named as Restaurant of the Year by Lancashire Life
Press And Media Coverage
Press and Media Coverage of Mark Birchall and Moor Hall
“A procession of refined, stunningly detailed dishes. Mark’s understanding of flavour is impeccable, showcased in brilliant combinations.”
“You will never look at a turnip in the same way after tasting what Birchall can do to this humble root vegetable by adding crab, sunflower seeds and anise hyssop, and although langoustine with smoked marrow and venison with kale and beetroot are more conventional pairings, they are so exquisitely cooked you will run out of superlatives before dessert.”
“The sounds, colours, textures, ingredients and sights seem to have the hand of a great artist behind each new sensation.”
“The pinnacle of present-day hospitality…Expect a succession of multiple small courses that rarely miss a beat, while surprising and captivating even those already familiar with the style.”
“The level of quality and detail which run through the entire operation here very much impressed, especially in terms of the remarkable cuisine & service.”
“Mark’s food was sheer joy… the dishes, served on local pottery, tasted natural, seasonal and delicious.”
Items we cannot grow ourselves are sourced locally from the West Lancashire region wherever possible, and as a result of these efforts, any food miles travelled are incredibly low.
All of our meat is reared in the North West and we only use sustainable fish from the UK. 100% of our fish are from day boats. All our suppliers have full traceability and so we know exactly where our produce comes from and how it's sourced.
Field Notes
Lancashire is a land of abundance. Our gardens teem with fruit and vegetables and flowers and herbs. In season here you might eat peas straight out of the pod, so fresh all they need is a touch of salt and nasturtium oil. What we don’t grow we seek out from the amazing produce tended and nurtured by local farmers and artisans.
On site we’re also busy with charcuterie, bread-making and our own micro-dairy. There’s always something interesting to explore or a discovery to be made. And we like to share what we find.
October 9, 2025
TWO MICHELIN KEYSWe are delighted to share that Moor Hall has been awarded Two MICHELIN Keys in the new MICHELIN Guide Hotel Selection.
October 9, 2025
BEST CHEF AWARDSWe’re thrilled to share that this week Mark Birchall entered into the Best Chef Awards 2025 — an international accolade celebrating culinary excellence and innovation.
September 29, 2025
WELLOCKS PRODUCERS SHOWOn Monday 29th September 2025, Moor Hall’s Chef-Patron Mark Birchall took part in the Wellocks Chef & Producer Show at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester — a day celebrating the finest ingredients, craftsmanship, and the producers who bring them to life.
September 12, 2025
A SIX STAR CELEBRATIONChef-Patron Mark Birchall joined Jean-Philippe Blondet for a remarkable one-night collaboration at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester — an evening uniting two of Britain’s three-Michelin-starred restaurants under one roof.
Mark Birchall Crowned Chef Award Winner at The Cateys 2025. We're thrilled to announce that Mark has been honoured with the prestigious Chef Award at The Cateys 2025.
Mark Birchall Named Chef of the Year at The National Restaurant Awards 2025 — Moor Hall Ranks Second in UK's Top 100 Restaurants
March 7, 2025
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOOR HALL CELEBRATES 8 YEARSMoor Hall celebrates 8 years of excellence and the achievement of 3 MICHELIN Stars in 2025
February 18, 2025
Inspectors Report: Why The Inspectors Awarded Three MICHELIN StarsMichelin inspectors' detailed report on why Moor Hall received three Michelin stars
February 11, 2025
THREE STARS MICHELIN 2025We are so proud to announce that we have been awarded 3 MICHELIN stars.
January 24, 2025
TOP 100 UK RESTAURANTS SQUAREMEAL'S TOP 100 LISTMoor Hall Restaurant with Rooms and The Barn at Moor Hall Shine in SquareMeal's Top 100 Restaurants List
