A BUTLIN'S chef has been named in the shortlist for prestigious new national award.

Butlin's Minehead's resort development chef Werner Hartholt is in the final three for Best Restaurant Chef Mentor in the first ever Chef Mentor Awards.

Werner is keeping excellent company as shortlisted alongside him is the legendary Albert Roux OBE, who along with his brother Michel operated Le Gavroche, the first restaurant in the UK to gain three Michelin stars.

Having joined Butlin’s two years ago, Werner has been instrumental in helping 30 younger team members undertake apprenticeships between Level 1 and Level 3 Professional Cookery, and can often be found giving one-to-one coaching and feedback in his own time.

He was also heavily involved in the recent Somerset Bake-Off, where pupils from schools in the county were taught various baking techniques during different rounds and challenges.

“Werner is held in the highest esteem across the business because of his professionalism and desire to help others learn from his vast knowledge, so it’s very fitting that he should be short-listed for the Mentor Awards,” said John Dunning, head of food and beverages for Butlin’s.

“In a short time, Werner has enabled us to evolve our overall dining experience, both in terms of the range and quality of dishes we offer, and the way we coach and train our team to prepare them.”

The winners of the Chef Mentor Awards will be announced at a dinner at Celtic Manor Hotel on July 17 as part of the Hospitality and Catering Expo.