Nick began his culinary journey at age 13 washing dishes at a roadside Welcome Break cafe in his native England. At 16, Nick attended culinary school at South Devon Technical College, graduating as best student and was presented with the 1977 Torbay Hotel's Association Scholarship.

With the scholarship he was awarded an apprenticeship at London's famed Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. During his stay at Grosvenor House Nick represented England in 1981 in the world finals of the famous "Commis Rotisseur" competition in Cairo, Egypt.

Nick worked at Grosvenor House for 6 years gathering invaluable experience before receiving a phone call one day summoning him to the 5 star, 407 room, Trust House Forte, Plaza of the America's Hotel in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. in 1982. By 1988, Nick was Executive Chef in charge of the seven hotel kitchens with a staff of 75+) including the nationally acclaimed 5 star Cafe Royal.

In 1990 Nick left to co-found Dani Foods, an exclusive food company specializing in high profile private catering, hospitality management and packaged foods. The company went from strength to strength and was sold to Coca-Cola (Southwest) in 1995.

Nick decided it was time to live his dream, so to speak, and thus BARCLAYS, The Restaurant opened on Valentine's Day 1997 in Dallas, Texas. BARCLAYS received rave reviews including 4 stars across the board for food, service and atmosphere from the Dallas Morning News. BARCLAYS was also awarded, in the Zagat Survey 1999, Top 5 in Dallas, of America’s Top Restaurants. GOURMET magazine rated BARCLAYS a "Top Table Winner" in America, placing 6th of the Top 20 Restaurants in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area (October 1998) out of 6,000 + restaurants. Other awards include being voted in the Top 3 (2nd), Best New Restaurants in Dallas by D Magazine (August 1997)Top 10 Best New Restaurants by the Dallas Morning News (January 1998).

The restaurant was also featured in Texas Monthly and Bon Appetite magazines. The restaurant featured Modern Euro-British Cuisine, the first of its kind in Texas, maybe America. The menu was styled in a set price format and changed monthly.

After 19 brilliant years in Dallas it was time to move on to the next dream which was to return to the U.K. to own and operate an Hotel and Restaurant, in the glorious West Country where he grew up. Local lad returns home after 19 years stateside you might say!

Nick and Kelli, purchased a fantastic 6 acre property in East Looe, Cornwall, England and in 2001, BARCLAY HOUSE, The Hotel, Restaurant and Luxury Cottages was created.

In that time they were featured in various newspapers and magazines including The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Cornish Times, The Western Morning News, BBC Good Food Magazine, Cornwall Today, Inside Cornwall, Here and Now Magazine, Food, The Local Directory, Food Finder, Enjoy Southwest and D-Magazine.

BARCLAY HOUSE was in the Good Hotel Guide for 5 years running, from 2003/04/05/06/07 and in The Michelin Red Guide Book. The Cottages held the 5 star rating from Visit Britain for the entire length of our stay (6 years).

The Restaurant @ Barclay House was named "Best Restaurant in Cornwall" for 3 years running receiving a Gold Medal in 2003, 2004 and 2005 by "Taste of the West" for its commitment to all things local, produce, products and people. The Restaurant @ Barclay House also won "Restaurant of the Year 2005" at The Cornwall Tourism Awards, November 2005 presented by Mary Nightingale from ITN. This award recognises excellence in all aspects of food preparation and service, together with extensive use and promotion of fresh local ingredients.

Nick and Kelli sold BARCLAY HOUSE in December 2006.

Nick has been instrumental in getting Looe on the culinary map and is also a co-founder and creator of Taste South East Cornwall, a year round initiative aimed at raising Looe‘s profile as a culinary hot spot. Nick has been featured in numerous magazines and newspaper articles relating him as a major driver in Looe and South East Cornwall’s rise in culinary status. Nick has enjoyed many appearances on BBC Radio Cornwall with Emma Lloyd including such features as a monthly all Cornish recipe.

Nick represented Cornwall in Turin, Italy in October 2006 as one of a 1,000 chefs from around the world invited to "Terra Madre" the world food convention organized by " Slow Food" of which Nick is happily a member.

One of Nick's latest ventures is food4myholiday.com which he founded in September 2007 along with Jackie Taylor and newest partner Iain Shillito. As you will discover on this site Nick also offers a host of other services, happily all to do with food and hospitality. Please explore this site, it has been beautifully put together by Peter Taylor of Herodsfoot Webworks, thank you Peter!

Nick and Kelli have 3 children, Hannah 11 and twins, Nick and Lucy, 8. Our hobbies include enjoying life, family and friends, travelling, food and wine, running our own business and we are serious motor racing fans!!

Information on Television, Radio, Video and Charity work available on request.