THE Chester Grosvenor’s restaurant manager Mark Bevan is the latest member of staff to win a place in the finals of prestigious national awards.

Mark, 26, from Chester, has been shortlisted for the Academy of Food and Wine’s 2010 UK Restaurant Manager of the Year competition.

He is in good company because last week his colleague sommelier Garry Clark was shortlisted for the Sommelier of the Year category.

Competing against five of his peers from the best restaurants across the UK Mark will now take part in the national final in London on May 17.

Mark will have to come up with a business plan for a new restaurant launch and will then be grilled on his ideas by a panel of expert judges as well and having his wine knowledge and front-of-house skills tested.

Mark oversees the smooth running of the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, ‘Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor’, and The Arkle Bar and Lounge.

He said: “I am delighted to be in the final and looking forward to come up against the best of the best in my industry. I was runner up last year so this time round I am determined to be the overall winner.”