Former MasterChef: the Professionals winner and leading Midlands chef Stuart Deeley launches a new restaurant next week at Mallory Court country house hotel outside Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.
Birmingham-bred Stu, who won MasterChef in 2019, worked at Mallory Court early in his career after studying at Halesowen College. He has had roles at some of the top kitchens in the Midlands, including Simpsons and The Wilderness, and founded Smoke at Hampton Manor – praised for its “exceptional cooking” in the 2025 Harden’s guide – which closed in February this year.
Stu said: “Coming back to Mallory Court feels like a full-circle moment for me. It’s a place with deep roots, not just in its history and gardens, but in the people — many of whom have been here for decades. What really excites me is the potential. We have a bigger blueprint here than I’ve ever had before, and that opens the door to creating something truly special.
“My focus is on classical flavour combinations, ingredients that speak for themselves, and food people genuinely want to eat — not just admire. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel, I just want to make it turn really, really well.”
His new restaurant, The Warwick, opens next Wednesday 18 June, and offers a five-course ‘Taste of the Season’ or three-course menu, using ingredients from Mallory Court’s kitchen gardens and taking inspiration from various sources, including Stu’s favourite city, San Sebastian in Spain. There will also be nostalgic dishes from his childhood, such as a baked Alaska which he has developed over the years.
