Cheshire restaurant entrepreneur Francis Carroll helped to persuade chef Marco Pierre White to come to Chester

CHESHIRE restaurant entrepreneur Francis Carroll is the man responsible for bringing long-term friend Marco Pierre White to the North West.

The chefs first worked together after they both trained under the Roux brothers at La Gavroche in London.

Francis has pulled off a real coup for the region’s food lovers with The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and Grill opening at Doubletree by Hilton Chester in February and another restaurant in Aughton, Lancashire.

Francis said: “I’ve been talking to Marco for years about getting him up here. Marco’s restaurants are all about the quality of the experience and are perfect for the relaxed ease of Cheshire and Lancashire diners.”

As well as the driving force behind the move, Francis has been the negotiator between Marco and the owner of the venues, Sanguine Hospitality Ltd, a luxury leisure group.

Francis helped out at Marco’s first London restaurant Harvey’s with other chefs that included a trainee Gordon Ramsay.

Marco said: “I am very excited about bringing my vision of dining out to the North West. Francis shares my views of the industry and I am very much enjoying working with him on this.”