ONE of the region’s most esteemed chefs has joined the North-East’s newest luxury venue.

Martin Moore is the chef at Rockliffe Hall, a hotel, golf and spa development in Hurworth, near Darlington, which is set to become the region’s second five-star resort.

Mr Moore joins Rockliffe after more than five years at Seaham Hall – currently the North-East’s only five-star hotel – overseeing all catering operations at the luxury venue, including its Michelin-starred restaurant and AA rosette-winning Ozone Pan-Asian restaurant.

He will organise menu and food options at Rockliffe Hall, overseeing its fine dining restaurant, spa bistro, and restaurant in the golf clubhouse. The clubhouse is scheduled to open next month with the main hotel to be unveiled later in the year.

Belfast-born Mr Moore, who lives in Middlesbrough and who also spent four years at Judges, in Yarm, near Stockton, described his move to Rockliffe Hall as his “dream job”.

Nick Holmes, managing director of Rockliffe Hall, said: “On meeting Martin, we didn’t need any persuading that his passion and skills in the kitchen, coupled with his insistence on sourcing the very best local ingredients, was the perfect blend for us.”

Joining Mr Moore in the kitchens is Luke Taylor.

He arrives as senior chef from Solberge Hall Hotel and Restaurant, near Northallerton.