Member News
Jake Jones, head chef at Forge, receives Michelin’s Young Chef of the Year award within a year of Forge’s opening, and the estate is awarded the Michelin Green Star.
North Yorkshire’s Middleton Lodge Estate proudly announces its achievements at the Michelin Awards for Great Britain and Ireland 2024. Jake Jones, head chef at Forge restaurant, earns Michelin’s Young Chef of the Year, and the estate secures the Michelin Green Star for its commitment to ethical and environmental standards.
Jake Jones, a 32-year-old chef raised in York, draws on his experience from farm-to-table restaurants. He joined the estate in 2021, learning to work with the landscape and starting the journey of creating the new Forge dining experience, following an 'estate-to-plate' ethos. His tasting menus are influenced by seasonal produce from the 200-acre landscape and the two-acre kitchen garden. Jake's commitment to sustainability and innovation is evident in every dish, with produce sourced either on-site or through strong relationships with local suppliers who share an eco-conscious ethos.
"I’m overjoyed to receive Michelin’s Young Chef of the Year award within a year of opening Forge. I’ve worked closely with the estate owner, James, and general manager, Glen, to develop the Forge experience. I’d like to thank them and the kitchen, front of house, and gardening teams who have helped make this possible," says head Chef Jake Jones.
Estate owner, James Allison, adds “The team and I are so proud of Jake for receiving such a milestone achievement within a year of opening Forge. To be celebrating this, and the Michelin Green Star is amazing, we’re delighted”.
Sustainability is deeply ingrained in Middleton Lodge's restoration initiatives. The estate has extensively researched and implemented various sustainable practices, including biomass heating, borehole water usage, a biodigester, electric kitchens, and recycling and reuse initiatives. Beehives have been introduced to enhance pollination and produce estate honey.
A significant investment was made in restoring the original 2-acre garden, redesigned by Tom Stuart-Smith and completed in 2018. This garden now yields seasonal produce for the estate kitchens, reducing food miles and championing the estate-to-plate ethos. Recently, additional greenhouses and raised beds have been installed to increase the produce grown on the estate.
"I'd like to thank the wonderful team we have at Middleton Lodge for their passion, hard work and dedication; it's this that makes moments like these so special. Restoring the estate in the most environmentally conscious, sustainable way is at the core of what we do, which is why the Michelin Green Star means so much. I'd also like to thank Ross Forder, our Coach House head chef, for his creativity and dedication to our 'estate to plate' ethos," added estate owner, James Allison.
Those looking to dine at Forge can choose between the 6-course tasting menu (£65pp with wine pairing at £55pp) or the ten-course tasting menu (£105pp with wine pairing £75pp). Reservations can be made for Thursday to Sunday evenings only. Room reservations can be made at Middleton Lodge Estate; prices range between £240 and £440, based on a bed and continental breakfast rate.
Book online at: https://middletonlodge.co.uk/eat/forge/, email forge@middletonlodge, or call 01325 377-977.
