Michael Caines will take a step back from Gidleigh Park (pictured) after 20 years as he unveils plans to turn Courtlands House in Lympstone, Devon, into his own hotel. The chef – whose “flawless” cooking meant his restaurant was crowned number one in the Sunday Times Top 100 restaurant list (powered by Harden’s) in 2014 – is being backed by private investors.

Caines and his backers plan to convert the Grade II listed Georgian mansion into a 21-bedroom country house, according to the Exeter Express and Echo, and have now acquired planning permission after months of delay. The project is also not yet fully funded and the renowned chef hopes to source investors locally.

Caines aims to open his hotel by early 2017 but says he will stay at Gidleigh Park for the “foreseeable future”.

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