A Preston city center restaurant run by a Masterchef finalist has secured a place in the prestigious Michelin Guide.
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263, located just off Winckley Square, is overseen by Oli Martin, 2018 BBC Masterchef: The Professionals finalist and 2020 BBC Masterchef The Professionals: A Festive Knockout winner.
In the guide, Michelin said the restaurant had a “friendly vibe and subtle Nordic flair”, with “fair” prices that offered “modern, carefully cooked dishes with interesting textures and great depth of flavour”.
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Speaking to the Preston Blog about the restaurant’s 2021 relaunch, Oli said: “I wanted to take a step back from the stoves and the general workings of the kitchen, to give myself more time to be able to focus on the dishes, on the style of the service and the offer.
“Sometimes you have to step away from things to progress. Once I visited 263 I knew it was somewhere with a lot of potential and a place where I could call myself home and make a difference.
“Lancashire is a true foodie destination – and Preston is, for many, the gateway to the county.”
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Michelin also praised the wait staff at 263, saying “the attentive service comes from a young team”.
Head chef Rikki Hughes has worked with some of the UK’s top chefs, joining 263 at Tom Kerridge’s 2-star Michelin restaurant, The Hand and Flowers.
Owned by catering entrepreneur Mark O’Rourke, owner of Fino Tapas, La Neta and Winckley Street Ale House, 263 relaunched on November 26, 2021.
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Speaking to the Preston Blog in 2021, Mark said: “Oli is definitely the man for the job.
“His style of cooking and his determination to produce a high quality product is what will make 263 a real success.
“I firmly believe that Oli will create a menu and a restaurant that people will talk about in the same breath as the best restaurants in Lancashire and the rest of the UK.”
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The restaurant is named after Mark Jr.’s date of birth and is located in the Winckley Square Hotel.
For more information on 263 visit – https://www.263preston.co.uk/our-story
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