A COOK at a South Lakeland hotel has made it through to the final of a prestigious culinary competition.

Oliver Mather, 20, works as a chef de partie at Crosthwaite's Punch Bowl Inn, and he is into the final round of the North West Chef of the Year competition.

Competing against six other talented cooks in the first of three semi finals, Oliver's three course meal made him stand out to the judges, booking his place in May's final.

In his round, held at Kendal College, Oliver went for a plaice starter, a lamb main, and a rhubarb souffle desert, following the brief of using seasonal and local produce.

"It was very stressful, very exciting, and there was a lot of adrenaline involved," said a delighted Oliver.

"I have never done anything like this before and it was completely different to working in a service kitchen. Everything is down to you and the judges see it all."

Two chefs – one winner and one runner-up – from each semi go through to compete in the final at South Cheshire College. Alongside the coveted title and national semi-final seed, the winner will scoop £500 in cash and a weekend for two at Cheshire’s The Mere Golf Resort & Spa.

"I'm just hoping to better myself and learn more about local produce," said Oliver of his aspirations for the remainder of the competition.

"I want to learn more about myself and my peers, and just enjoy it as well."

Originally from Bolton, Oliver moved to Cumbria in 2009 when his parents purchased the Stockghyll Cottage B&B in Windermere.

He showed an interest in cookery from a young age, and went on to study catering at Wigan and Leigh College.

After a brief stint at the Stonecross Manor hotel in Kendal, he moved on the The Punch Bowl Inn.

"It's a really nice close-knit team and it's a beautiful place to work," he said. "We all get on with each other, we're all of a young age, and there's always a lot of laughs going around the kitchen.