Derby chef's favourite restaurants in the city include a Michelin Guide eatery and a humble McDonald's

Ashley Payne is a sous chef in Derby whose experience has seen him work with the best teams in Derbyshire | Image Ashley PayneAshley Payne is a sous chef in Derby whose experience has seen him work with the best teams in Derbyshire | Image Ashley Payne
Ashley Payne is a sous chef in Derby whose experience has seen him work with the best teams in Derbyshire | Image Ashley Payne | Ashley Payne
There is also a surprising entry on the top food list.... can you guess what it is?

Finding the next hot restaurant can sometimes be a minefield, as there are so many review sites out there, it can be difficult to know where to look.

We have given this a lot of thought and decided word of mouth is one of the best ways to find out where is popping off in the Derby dining scene.

Who better to know all this, than a chef?

Read more: Lifestyle

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We have taken it upon ourselves to chat with Derby chefs, get to know them more, and also get their insider food recommendations that you may not already know.

The first Derby chef in the hot seat is Ashley Payne. He is sous chef at JCB Golf and Country Club, who works under head chef Andy Ellis. 

The 26-year-old has been working in kitchens for 14 years, 12 of them cooking and serving up culinary masterpieces for the good people of Derby.

Here are Ashley’s food recommendations in Derby

  1. The Boot at Repton
  2. Morley Hayes Dovecote Restaurant
  3. Darleys Restaurant & Terrace 
  4. McDonald’s

Ashely said: “I selected these places because I have previously worked at them, so I know how good the food is.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The Derby restaurants all use local produce, which is a massive plus, as I find this makes it a much more enjoyable experience when dining.”

A chef rating fast food is not unusual.

Masterchef presenter and owner of Michelin starred restaurant at Berkeley Hotel, Marcus Wareing, caused a stir last year when he raved about Pizza Express pizza.

Reflecting on his fast food choice, Ashley said: “I chose McDonald’s as every chef loves a McDonald’s at the end of the night because it’s easier than going home to cook, so it’s convenient!”

Ashley’s is keen to add other food outlets he rates include street food places, food vans and food markets.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ashley’s respect for local produce and his finely tuned palate has seen him work in prestigious kitchens including Darleys which is included in the Michelin Guide 2023, and has an AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence 2023.

His first cooking stint was much closer to home… in his family kitchen. 

Ashley said: “I got into cooking mainly because of my nanna. 

“I used to cook with her all the time when I was younger, then she got me my first potwash job as she was the Head Cook.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This means I could make basic soups, cakes and more, so I just naturally fell into the industry.”

To find out more information about Ashley’s cooking visit JCB Golf & Country Club’s website by clicking here.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice