Michael Caines MBE, chef patron of Lympstone Manor, is known as one of Britain’s most celebrated and acclaimed Michelin-starred chefs. Having grown up in the South West of England, Michael has earned a global reputation for his distinctive modern cuisine, which champions the finest local produce and suppliers, combined with influences from his global travels.
After attending a local Catering College in Exeter Michael’s talent was evident and this was followed by three years at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons with Raymond Blanc. He then furthered his experience travelling to France to study under Bernard Loiseau and Joël Robuchon. In 1994 Michael returned to the UK to take up the position of head chef at Gidleigh Park in his home county of Devon. It was at Gidleigh that Michael achieved two Michelin stars. Both of which he retained for 18 years and earned within just four.
After 21 years at Gidleigh, in April 2017 Michael struck out on his own, opening Lympstone Manor – the luxury 21- bedroom country house hotel in a Grade II Georgian mansion in East Devon. Lympstone achieved its first Michelin star within six months of opening. The hotel now holds 5 AA Rosettes as of the AA Hospitality Awards 2020. Keen to keep Lympstone fresh, Michael has built a vineyard on site, overlooking the Exe estuary and featuring approximately 17,500 vines. Lympstone is also the home to motoring festival – Celebration of Speed – an annual event commemorating Michael’s love of all things motoring.
In 2006 Michael was awarded an MBE for contributions and services to the hospitality industry and made a Freeman of the City of Exeter for his work impassioning the hospitality industry in the local area. Michael also created the Michael Caines Academy at Exeter College – of which he is alumnus – as well as The Michael Caines Foundation which supports numerous charities including Families for Children, Farms for City Children, The Exeter Foundation, One for the Boys, WESC and Devon Wildlife Trust.
Firmly rooting himself in the South West, Michael’s other projects include The Cove Restaurant and Bar at Maenporth, The Harbourside Refuge in Porthleven and 2021 will welcome a fourth site, Mickeys Beach Bar and Restaurant on the Exmouth shoreside.
Michael is a familiar face on television, appearing regularly on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, Great British Menu and MasterChef and has authored a cookbook, Michael Caines at Home. He is an AA Chef’s Chef of the Year and has cooked at 10 Downing Street as well as being partner and ambassador for the Williams Formula 1 Motor Racing team, overseeing catering for the Grand Prix across the globe. Michael is also the co-founder of UK hotel chain, aBode and the Chef Representative of luxury hotel group, Relais & Chateaux, of which Lympstone is a proud member. More recently, Michael created a selection of all-natural flavours for premium US-based CBD soda brand, Isca.
