Top chef joins Hexham Golf Club

Tony will initially provide all the catering and bar facilities for the club's 1,000-plus members and for visiting parties.

But the golf novice, who claims the only bag you'll see him carrying on Hexham's green is a plastic one filled with wild mushrooms, hopes to soon throw open the doors of the impressive Palladian clubhouse to the wider public.

Last night, Tony told The Journal he was "incredibly excited" by his latest business venture.

"Although I'm busy enough here at the Barrasford, it is another focus; something else I can get my teeth into.

"I admit, this is the last thing I expected to be doing.

"But many of Hexham's members are already customers and friends of mine, and it is they who pushed me towards doing this.

"They would sit at the bar telling me to go for it, and I would say 'yeah, yeah.'

"Then I heard the opportunity had come up to provide the catering and bar.

"I think it is very brave for the golf club to be getting someone like me in to help grow the business.

"This will take the offering on to another level and gives me the chance to continue promoting locally sourced ingredients. Everything will be extremely fresh."

Hexham Golf Club chairman Ian Crawford, said: "This is great news for our members and is a critical part of achieving our goal of being the best members club in the county.

"Tony's experience and expertise is second to none and he has some excellent ideas for social events which will appeal to different groups within the club."

Despite not being a golfer, Tony has had some memorable experiences of catering for golfing legend Tiger Woods.

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