CAIRNEY'S Bistro, Crediton has new owners. Caroline Gray and Richie Brent have taken over the bistro from Rosie and Jim Cairney.

Both Caroline and Richie have previous experience in the catering industry.

Caroline spent her early years in a farming community in Northern Ireland.

Her mother was a good family cook, while her father travelled extensively and was passionate about cooking and sourcing the best ingredients.

When Caroline moved to England she worked as a waitress while studying medical science. When she gave up her career in medical science she became general manager and marketing manager for Whitbread, working throughout the southwest as a restaurant and hotel manager, where she won several prizes in hospitality.

Ritchie, a Geordie from Gosport in Newcastle grew up eating his mum's fresh home cooking.

When he left school he trained in local restaurants and took his City and Guilds examination.

He then went to work in Europe, learning from a very talented chef, Piero, who owned a chain of restaurants. Continuing to travel throughout Europe he gained further experience and when returned to the UK worked for a leading brand restaurant as a kitchen manager.

Richie has recently achieved major awards in national culinary competitions and received a bronze medal for his lobster home made pasta with mint and almond pesto.

Both Caroline and Richie are passionate about food and enjoy sourcing local ingredients. Richie likes to grow his own food and is hoping to find a local allotment and is very interested in meeting local growers, both domestic and commercial and using their produce in his cooking.

With new owners Cairney's Bistro will be open every evening as well as every lunchtime, including Sundays.

For more information or to make a booking contact Caroline on 07890371459.

A competition will be held to give Cairney's a new name.

Nora Parminter