THE celebrity chef who helped found a successful North Yorkshire hotel has decided to up sticks and leave after nine years.

John Benson-Smith and his wife, Alison, will be moving from the Hazlewood Castle Hotel, near Tadcaster.

Mr Benson-Smith, a

former northern chef of the year and a former regular judge on BBC TV's Masterchef, will be opening a new bar and restaurant in Jersey, in March.

He said today he would remain a consultant chef to Manchester City Football Club and English Lake Hotels.

He opened Hazlewood Castle, a former monastery, in 1997, and through the restaurant, called 1086, helped to create an award-winning luxury hotel, banqueting and conference venue.

Mr Benson-Smith returned to North Yorkshire after a spell as executive chef at the Victoria and Albert Hotel, in Manchester.

He has also worked at the Black Swan, in Helmsley, and Linton Springs, near Wetherby.

He said: "Hazlewood has been a tremendous challenge, and has been hugely rewarding for both of us.

"We feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to create a business from scratch that now has a considerable turnover. We would like to thank everyone for the wonderful party and send off we received, and wish them all continued success."

In 2004, Mr Benson-Smith was nominated in the Evening Press Business Awards, in the categories of Business Personality of the Year and Best Business in Education Link.

Last year, 1086 - named after the castle's mention in the ancient Doomsday book - was voted the best restaurant in Yorkshire by more than 80,000 members of Hi-Life Diners Club.

Mr Benson-Smith pledged that a "strong management structure and capable team" would remain in place.

The couple's new restaurant in Jersey will be called the Boat House Bar and Restaurant.

Updated: 08:55 Thursday, March 02, 2006