A CHEF from a pub near Hartley Wintney has been selected as a finalist for a prestigious award.

Ray Brenner, head chef of The Chequers, at Eversley Cross, has reached the final three of the pub restaurant chef category at the 2015 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards.

Mr Brenner said he will take his parents to the awards ceremony, which is due to take place at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in London on June 15, as they inspired him to become a chef.

He added: “I’m ecstatic to have made the finals of the awards and can’t quite believe it is really happening.

“A lot of hard work goes into being a chef, and it’s so nice to get recognition for it – it’s quite overwhelming in fact.”

Mr Brenner said he is looking forward to the awards ceremony, adding: “It’s also fantastic to get positive feedback for something you’ve always done and believed in, and I’m just thrilled to be going to London to the finals next month.”

Mr Brenner has worked at The Chequers since June 2013, when it was taken over by independent pub company Peach, which has a collection of gastropubs mainly in market towns in England.

He grew up in Crowthorne and has previously worked at London restaurants Le Cafe des Amis in Covent Garden and Hush in Mayfair, before heading to work in pubs and restaurants in Berkshire.

This included two years as head chef at Brunning and Price’s gastropub The Mill House, in Oldham.

A total of 16 awards will be handed out at the awards ceremony next month, covering all aspects of the UK chef industry, such as the Armed Forces and young and apprentice chefs.

More than 800 people are expected to attend.