At Delapré Abbey June 6 and 7 2026
Super Early Bird Ticket Sale Ends:
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Chef Demos in 2026
The chef demos are free. Just turn up and take a seat.
All the way from the USA, we are delighted to welcome Colter Peck as our headline chef in 2026. Full of muscles, tattoos and cooking attitude, Colter is a Texas BBQ legend, known throughout the US for his live-fire cooking and traditional Texas barbecue – while at the same time being one helluva talent in a traditional kitchen. He has taken time out from a UK trip to be a special guest at this year’s Delapré Food Festival– don’t miss him!
The chef demos take place hourly and are free. All the chefs wear microphones and the demonstrations are shown on large TV screens so you can see everything close up.
The chefs concentrate on using fresh, locally-sourced, seasonal produce to prepare their signature dishes. Simply pull up a chair and enjoy!
Katie Johnson from Wot’s Cooking hosts the demo stage. Katie is a farmer turned broadcaster and writer, who worked as a presenter and producer for the BBC for 15 years. Here is the line-up:
SATURDAY
11am: Adam Phillips
Award-winning Private Chef
Adam Phillips is an award-winning private chef known for delivering refined, restaurant-quality dining experiences in exclusive settings across the UK.
Classically trained and with a career shaped in some of the country’s most respected kitchens, including Michelin-starred environments, he has built a reputation for combining technical precision with bold, seasonal creativity.
His approach is rooted in a deep respect for produce, with menus designed around the finest seasonal ingredients and tailored to each individual client and occasion.
In 2023, he was named Chef of the Year at the Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards, recognising his innovation, consistency, and ability to deliver outstanding culinary experiences.
SATURDAY
Noon: James Peck and Dylan Warren
Restaurant Ember, Wellingborough
James never wanted to be a chef. He wanted to be a soldier. The Army is where he first found himself in a kitchen and where the early sparks of his talent began to emerge. He will say he wasn’t a chef until he started working in London, in high-end kitchens, being put to the test, and truly learning his craft.
Looking to balance work and fatherhood, James returned to his native Northampton to set up his own specialist catering business, Burnt Lemon Catering, bringing his fine dining skill to parties, high profile events, and weddings.
This led to his starring role in the reality TV show The Brigade, hosted by Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton. He spent a year travelling around Europe and having the once in a lifetime chance to cook in some of its most renowned kitchens. He was one of two chefs picked by Atherton to lead a crack team in the cook-off for the finale.
James became inspired by cooking on fire. Its simplicity, combined with his fine dining skill, has led to the signature cooking style he’s now known for – modern, beautiful dishes with incredible flavour and, of course, a little smoke!
He opened his first restaurant, Ember, in Wellingborough in 2022 – a live fire open kitchen venue that has received accolades such as OpenTable Top 100 Restaurants, Great Food Club Guides Restaurant of the Year, and Northampton Food and Drink Awards Restaurant of the Year. He expanded to a second site, The Four Pears in Little Houghton, in spring 2024.
On top of his personal success, he is a proud mentor and ambassador for Moulton Colleges chef apprenticeship scheme. Having recently been accepted as a Master Chef of Great Britain, he hopes that the coming year brings greater opportunity to support and inspire the next generation.
1pm: Darren Gurry
Masterchef UK: Quarter-finalist 2025
Darren did Northamptonshire proud when he battled through to the quarter-finals in last year’s Masterchef UK, with John Torode describing his food as big, bold and gutsy.
The show has propelled Darren into a world of Supper Clubs and Private Dining, where his menus are seasonally inspired and he loves using local, fresh ingredients.
He cooks at private events and pop up restaurants around the country as well as hosting regular food demonstrations.
2pm: Bart Polinski
Executive head chef at Hibiscus, the fine dining restaurant situated in the stunning Billiard Room at Delapré Abbey
Bart was named ‘Chef of the Year’ at the 2022/23 Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, was recently awarded his second AA Rosette and saw Hibiscus crowned ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at the 2024/2025 Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.
With a focus on sustainable cooking, Bart uses fresh produce grown within Hibiscus’ own kitchen garden to handcraft a delicious, seasonally-changing seven course tasting menu.
Bart began his culinary journey in France, where he helped open Glynn Purnell’s new restaurant in Clermont at just 19 years old. Working as a sous chef, he developed a deep appreciation for seasonal produce such as local foie gras, saffron, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
He then spent a year at Le Pré, where daily foraging for wild mushrooms, asparagus, and edible flowers in the mountains inspired his ingredient-led, nature-driven approach to cooking.
Back in the UK, Bart joined the team at Delapré Abbey, progressing from sous chef to head chef. After broadening his experience elsewhere, he returned in 2022 as Executive Head Chef.
3pm: Colter Peck
Texas cooking legend
Colter is a Texas BBQ legend, known throughout the US for his live-fire cooking and traditional Texas barbecue – while at the same time being one helluva talent in a traditional kitchen. He has taken time out from a UK trip to be a special guest at this year’s Delapré Food Festival– don’t miss him!
SUNDAY
11am:
Darren Gurry
Masterchef UK: Quarter-finalist 2025
Darren did Northamptonshire proud when he battled through to the quarter-finals in last year’s Masterchef UK, with John Torode describing his food as big, bold and gutsy.
The show has propelled Darren into a world of Supper Clubs and Private Dining, where his menus are seasonally inspired and he loves using local, fresh ingredients.
He cooks at private events and pop up restaurants around the country as well as hosting regular food demonstrations.
Noon: Adam Phillips
Award-winning Private Chef
Adam Phillips is an award-winning private chef known for delivering refined, restaurant-quality dining experiences in exclusive settings across the UK.
Classically trained and with a career shaped in some of the country’s most respected kitchens, including Michelin-starred environments, he has built a reputation for combining technical precision with bold, seasonal creativity.
His approach is rooted in a deep respect for produce, with menus designed around the finest seasonal ingredients and tailored to each individual client and occasion.
In 2023, he was named Chef of the Year at the Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards, recognising his innovation, consistency, and ability to deliver outstanding culinary experiences.
1pm:
Bart Polinski
Executive head chef at Hibiscus, the fine dining restaurant situated in the stunning Billiard Room at Delapré Abbey
Bart will be cooking Pork Tenderloin with pickled apple, broccoli, potato & black pudding hashbrown topped with a spiced jus.
2pm: James Peck and Ben Leonard
The Four Pears, Little Houghton
James returns wearing his Four Pears hat to cook alongside his head chef Ben Leonard.