Say hello to Chef Patron Daniel Smith

Ever wondered who’s in the Kitchen when you visit The Ingham Swan?  Our talented team is headed up by Chef Patron Daniel Smith and we thought you’d be interested to find out more about him.  Daniel is Norfolk born and bred and grew up in Caister-on-Sea. He wanted to be a chef from the age of 12 and started with a Saturday job at Great Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach turning candy-floss and selling ice-cream. During his College studies on trips to London he handed out his CV and got his first big break at the 2-star Michelin restaurant, Le Gavroche, where he joined the team at just 18 as a Commis Chef and then Chef de Partie working alongside Le Roux-trained Chefs.  Returning to his Norfolk roots he enjoyed a 10-year career with Animal Inns, becoming Executive Chef working across their portfolio of venues. Like most Chefs he wanted to own his own Restaurant and the opportunity arose along with his friend and business partner in April 2010 to buy The Ingham Swan. 

Daniel says ‘We chose The Ingham Swan purely because it was a location that had not traditionally been covered by good food and we thought it could be well served by what I produce. I'm a local man, living just a few miles down the road, so it felt like the perfect location and we just loved the aesthetic of the building and the overall feel of the place. It’s got great character and history’ … 11 years on, the rest, as they say, ‘is history’. 

Notable highlights in Daniel’s career include winning  EDP Norfolk Chef of the Year 2014, Restaurant Chef of the Year - Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2017 and taking part in BBC2's Great British Menu 2016.