A CHEF has become among the youngest in the country to win a coveted culinary award, seven months after helping to relaunch a restaurant.

AA inspectors said the meals 25-year-old Harrison Barraclough served at The Black Lion, in Market Place, Thirsk, stood out in the area and that diners could eat there “with a sense of anticipation”.

They added while they had given Mr Barraclough, a former pupil at Sacred Heart School, in Redcar, a single rosette for his orange glaze duck breast, his food had come close to being awarded two rosettes, an accolade reserved for restaurants demonstrating precision cooking.

Mr Barraclough said: “This is a big deal for me as I was just a couple of months off becoming the youngest in Britain to win this award.

“We are going for more of a restaurant feel and after getting this award the proof has been in the pudding.”

Former recruitment consultant Paul Binnington, who bought the restaurant last August, said he had been delighted with the flair Mr Barraclough had displayed after being appointed head chef.

He said: “We both went on a specific training course to allow us insight into gaining AA rosettes and Michelin stars.

“Harrison took all his learnings on board into his new menu and received even more acclaim.”