James Martin’s surprise visit to Spread Eagle in Edgworth

Celebrity chef James Martin not only enjoyed a meal at the Edgworth restaurant but later visited the chefs to thank them personally and praise their cooking.

The surprise visit took place the day before the launch of Bolton Food and Drink Festival , at The Spread Eagle by McLeod 9, where James was joined later in the evening by fellow chef Michael Caines.

Joe McLeod, chef patron and owner of McLeod 9 Venues, said the visit meant even more because of the ages of the chefs working in his kitchen.

He said: “It’s overwhelming, it’s humbling. It’s humbling, certainly. I’m not just saying this for the paper, it is.

“It’s humbling and it’s overwhelming, you know, it’s lovely. It’s lovely to, you know. I don’t really, I don’t expect things.

(Image: PHIL TAYLOR)

“And when things like this happen, it’s just, it’s really nice. And you know what? It’s not just for me, right? It’s for the team.

“I’ve got such a young team in there. I’ve got, like, a 21 year old, I’ve got a 17 year old, just turned 17 last week.

“I’ve got an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old. That’s it. Like, they’re all so young.”

Joe said James arrived after calling the venue around half-an-hour and asking whether there was a table available.

He said staff were in the middle of service and focused on their work when they learned the television chef wanted to try their food.

James later went into the kitchen, where he thanked the chefs and told them he had enjoyed the meal, said Joe.

Joe said: “So we were all like, wow, right, amazing. He wants to come and try our food. Like, we’re absolutely over the moon with that.

“So, yeah, he came, tried it and came to the kitchen.”

(Image: PHIL TAYLOR)

Joe said his young team had been “beaming from ear to ear” following the visit.

He said the experience gave them the chance to cook for a well known chef at an early stage in their careers.

Joe added: “They work so hard, it’s just nice for them to see, you should have seen the lads in the kitchen last night.

“They were, like, beaming from ear to ear.

“It was just so nice because they can go home to the mums, the dads, the aunties, the sisters, brothers, whatever, and say, ‘listen, I cooked for James Martin last night,’ which not many people can say.

“I’m not just saying it for the paper, but that’s what means the most to me because it’s seeing them so happy.

“It was just a wonderful experience and a very honoured moment for him to come.”