BARRIE Tucker is a force to be reckoned with.

The head chef at the Psalter’s Restaurant at the Luttrell Arms in Dunster has made sweeping changes since he started there in March 2015 – and things could not have gone better.

As well as completely overhauling the menus for the restaurant and the bar, and bringing in a dedicated team of staff, he managed to achieve the restaurant’s first AA Rosette last September.

And he’s not got plans to slow down any time soon.

Barrie, a West Somerset chef born and bred, recently led an array of award-winning chefs with a stunning menu for the launch of the Exmoor Food Fest.

He’s worked under prestigious chefs including Phil Vickery at the Castle Hotel in Taunton and at some of London’s top Michelin starred restaurants.

So why the move back?

Barrie says: “Living and working in Somerset you are very inspired by the ingredients around you.

“We try and keep our menus as seasonal and as local as possible, and because I’ve worked across for a number of years and a different places, I’ve built up some really good contacts with suppliers even though we’ve all gone away and done different things and come back.

“But they’re always letting me know what’s in season or good to use.

“When I first came back to Somerset from London I was quite tired having done six days a week for 18 years.

“I met my wife while I was working in Bicknoller and and now we have two boys and I wanted to stay around here as it’s a great place to grow up.

“I do a lot of cooking with the boys but I don’t think I’d want them to be chefs.

“I always thought the Luttrell had a lot of potential.

“The owners of the hotel are great, they let me get on with what I want to do and really trust me.

“I think when I started they were a bit worried because I overhauled the menu and made a lot of changes, but then when I got that Rosette it helped prove to them I think.

“I did really try and sell myself in my interview so I had to show them that I was capable of this.”

Having gained his first AA Rosette at the hotel, Barry is keen to continue his success and the growing reputation the Luttrell has and he’s already setting plans in motion he hopes will help him to achieve this.

He added: “When I came here the food was quite different to what we do now, a lot of it was microwaved so I had to start from scratch and bring a whole new team in.

“We change the menu a couple of times a year, there are some classics that we keep such as some of the stuff on the bar menu but we’ll change little elements about it.

“I want us to get our second Rosette and I’m hopeful we will be able to do that this year.

“We’ve got a really good team here and everyone gets on well and works hard.

“I want the Luttrell to be not somewhere people just come because it’s Dunster and they like the area and want to stay here, but I want it to be a whole experience where they stay at the hotel and eat and enjoy our food.

  • Psalter’s Restaurant is taking part in the Exmoor Food Fest throughout February.

It means on February 9, 16 and 23, the restaurant will be offering two courses of fantastic food for £10 or three courses for £15 from its Exmoor Food Fest menu.

Advance booking is essential for the menu offer.

Call 01643 821555 or visit the website for details of the offer and to book at luttrellarms.co.uk