Morecambe FC's former award-winning chef aims to put Carnforth pub back on map

Graham Aimson, 40, is the latest addition to the team at the Royal Station Hotel in Carnforth and has lots of exciting ideas for the iconic establishment.

Mr Aimson, who is originally from Morecambe, won awards for his pies when he worked at Morecambe Football Club. His reputation was so well known that the owners of the Royal Station Hotel, Glen Pearson and Maggie Dainty, couldn’t wait to snap him up.

Mr Pearson said: “Now the majority of the refurbishment is done it’s all about growing the professional team and getting Graham on board was one of my main aims. He’s ambitious and he likes a challenge and that’s what we need.”

As well as revolutionising the current menu, Mr Aimson intends on introducing fine dining in the restaurant and later on in the year the hotel bar will be transformed into a tapas bar.

Mr Aimson said: “I want to put this place on the map for great local food and one of the ways I want to do this is by using local produce. I have been working on the menus and as well as offering great home-cooked pub food for all the family we will be offering a gourmet menu.”

The skilled chef, who has more than 20 years experience under his belt, has welcomed the challenge and is looking forward to the new state-of-the-art kitchen that is soon to be installed – one of many new projects scheduled for this year.

He said: “I think the potential here is great, I have no doubt that the Royal Station Hotel will be winning awards in just a couple of years time. The amount of work that has already been done is incredible and it’s brilliant to see the transformation.”

Despite the amount of changes the establishment is having Mr Pearson stresses that there is no intention of “out-pricing customers”

He added: “It’s all about providing variety and giving our customers a choice, by the end of the year we will have three different menus which will cater for all.”

Mr Pearson and Miss Dainty bought the landmark hotel in 2016 and have been gradually bringing it back to life after it was left to fall into ruin.

Originally they aimed to plough half a million pounds into the refurbishment, but have said the cost of the project has actually risen to nearer £1m.