A new executive chef says he is “honoured” to head up a luxury Marlow hotel’s riverside restaurant.

Raj Chakraborty is joining the team at the Macdonald Compleat Angler Hotel and will look after the three AA Rosette Riverside Restaurant, as well as oversee the food operations at the three other hotels in the region.

The talented chef has previously worked with seven Michelin starred chefs who appeared on BBC’s Great British Menu and was executive chef during the opening of the five-star St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

Born in Kolkata, India, and moving to Britain at a young age, the chef’s cooking is influenced by his parents’ love of fresh, local food.

He said: “My mum always cooked with fresh food as my dad wouldn’t eat anything unless he knew where it was from. I grew up with an ethos of eating fresh, healthy and ethically sourced food where I went out of my way to meet the producer in person.

“Food is art for me. A plate of food is a creation and I get to be the artist. I am passionate about cooking with only the best-quality ingredients and Macdonald Hotels is well renowned for the provenance of its food.

“It is a true honour to be appointed as regional executive chef of the M25 region and was just too good an opportunity to miss.”

Simon Jackson, group sales director and chief executive of Macdonald Resorts said they were “very excited” to welcome the “outstanding” chef.