Do you remember when British food was a bit of a laughing stock? Back in my Naked Chef days, I constantly found myself sticking up for our cuisine and defending the honour of our Great British chefs, farmers and producers. But then something wonderful happened. In the mid-1990s, we welcomed the era of Cool Britannia. The energy of Britpop exploded and suddenly our culture — and our culinary confidence — were something to shout about. Our neighbourhood restaurants became the envy of the world.
And we’ve kept that flame alive ever since. Globally, the United Kingdom is a top-10 destination. We welcome a massive 40 million visitors every year. They’re not just coming for the royal family, for our history and heritage. Just like us, visitors want to enjoy the perfect pint in a proper cosy pub, they want to feel the energy and buzz of our farmers’ markets and experience the genius of a young chef pushing culinary boundaries in a basement kitchen. Our food scene is eclectic and exciting and it gives Britain its soul.
