A chef with an award-winning background is helping to put an historic Wiltshire manor house on the county’s culinary map.

Matthew Briddon, 41, is the new head chef at the Grade II*-listed Iford Manor near Bradford on Avon.

As an increasing number of foodie fans have already discovered, he’s dishing up a sublime range of tasty meals at the manor’s kitchen for customers of its café and restaurant.

“Much of the food we serve is grown, reared or foraged from our vegetable garden and from across the Iford Manor estate,” says Matthew, who hails from Chesterfield in Derbyshire.

“Each dish in the restaurant is made from scratch, specifically to order, and hopefully, you can taste the difference.”

His immediate ambition is to gain an AA Rosette for Iford Manor and then take its cuisine to the next level.

Mr Briddon has worked in some of Britain's best kitchens, starting out in Paul Heathcote’s Michelin-starred Heathcotes Restaurant in Preston after leaving catering college.

He has helped to turn ordinary restaurants into award-winners, has featured on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, and was placed 11th in the 2022 Knorr Chef of the Year competition.

During the Covid pandemic lockdown, Matthew started his own bakery and charcuterie business and he has also worked in Canada and Poland.

His Polish wife Claudia also helps out at Iford Manor, and the couple have two daughters aged seven and ten.

“Every morning I get a call at 2am from my fish supplier in Cornwall telling me what they have caught and it’s with me before service at lunchtime,” he said.

He calls his style of cuisine ‘Magpie British’ as the bird is renowned for stealing, so he picks and chooses from British, French and Italian cookery, depending on the seasonal produce available in the Iford Manor gardens.

“Everything is prepared and cooked with as much respect as we can muster. We take elements from British, Italian and French foods and serve it with simplicity.”

Iford Manor has been home to the Cartwright-Hignett family since 1965, and boasts a rich history dating back to the Domesday Book.

The house is renowned for its Arts and Crafts gardens designed by Edwardian architect Harold Peto, who owned the manor from 1899 to 1933.

But visitors are increasingly going to Iford for its food, lovingly prepared by Mr Briddon and his team using fresh ingredients and locally-grown produce, including some from the manor’s own gardens.

They are brightening tables with home-made dishes, using top-quality and sustainable produce. As with anything at Iford, tasting the food and the wines to accompany them, is not an experience to be rushed.

That’s why Iford Manor has launched a Friday Night Supper Club, held every fortnight, enabling visitors to start the weekend by relaxing with family and friends.

The Supper Clubs aim to create a convivial atmosphere in beautiful surroundings where people can eat delicious food and appreciate fine wines while live music is being played in the background.

The evenings consist of a five-course menus and meals, created by Mr Briddon and his team, with wines carefully selected to complement the food.

The next event is a traditional Burns Night on January 27, with a five-course tasting menu and a traditional Scottish Piper.

On February 10, there will be a five-course tasting menu from sous chef Amy Inglis, and further Supper Club events are planned for March 10 and 24.

Dietary requirements will be catered for wherever possible as long as you let Iford Manor know in advance.