Dream come true for Masterchef contestant with restaurant launch
A CHEF who appeared on Masterchef: The Professionals is opening a new restaurant in a South Derbyshire town this week.
Matt Clayton’s new Melbourne venue, Leddy’s, will welcome its first customers tomorrow night.
The No.38 High Street venue is a joint venture alongside his wife Evie, while her dad Nick Carter is also a director.
The 300-year-old building was previously occupied by Melbourne Carpets, his fatherin-law’s old carpet shop, and has been in the Carter family for decades.
The carpet shop moved over the summer to pave the way for a major refurbishment which has seen it transformed into a gastrostyle venue, which will also serve fine dining dishes.
Matt has worked in various rosette and Michelin star establishments right across the county, including Melbourne’s own Amalfi White, but Thursday’s opening will see him fulfil his dream of running his very own venue.
He said: “I can’t put into words how excited and proud I am. It was a joke between Nick and I a couple of years ago that we could turn the carpet shop into a restaurant and have a glass floor looking down the cellar stairs – it’s actually happening now.
“Melbourne is a great town with some fantastic food and drink establishments, so it will be nice to bring another to the area and hopefully increase the footfall to Melbourne too. It’s always been a dream to do it, and thanks to Evie and her family, they have helped make this possible.”
Matt grew up in Ashbourne, going on to work at Bramhalls and Callow Hall in the Derbyshire Dales market town.
The 35-year-old has also worked at Fishers in Baslow, The Peacock in Rowsley, and Derby city centre’s Cathedral Quarter Hotel during his career.
For the past eight years, he has lived in Melbourne, working at Amalfi White as head chef. One of the highlights of Matt’s career was cooking a three-course meal for the late Queen Elizabeth II and the now King Charles III, when he was the Prince of Wales.
Speaking about his royal experience, and his stint on BBC One show Masterchef: The Professionals, Matt said: “I cooked for her late Majesty The Queen and our current King as part of the Maundy service at the Cathedral Quarter Hotel. They had a threecourse meal of ham hock terrine, Derbyshire lamb and the Queen’s favourite – rhubarb charlotte.
On to the inspiration behind the name Leddy’s, he said: “Leddy is my nickname, it has been since my early school days. It was because I ran like I had lead in my boots at school, so I was called Led, and then it went to Leddy.
“We thought keep the restaurant name simple and go with that. It has some unique identity now as I’m not sure there’s another Leddy’s restaurant anywhere.”
Leddy’s will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, but is already fully booked until January.