Biography

Michael trained with Roux Restaurants, who in the 1980s dominated the restaurant scene. He returned to his native York, in the 1990s, to open Melton's Restaurant with his wife Lucy.

Melton's is a fine dining restaurant serving modern British food and is featured in all the major food guides winning two 'AA' rosettes and has a rating of five in the Good Food Guide. It is renowned for serving high quality food in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. In 2001 Michael and Lucy opened Melton's Too; a Café-Bar Bistro in Walmgate, York.

Since its foundation in 1997, Michael has been one of the principle organisers of the York Food and Drink Festival and is now the Festival's Managing Director. His commitment to this Festival arises out of his enthusiastic support of the local quality food industry.

His enthusiasm to develop the food and drink industry motivated Michael to help establish the 'Awards for Excellence' for the staff in Tourism and Hospitlality. Michael recently became a Director in the new Tourism organisation VisitYork.