A CHEF from a Somerset inn which could be named the UK's best pub has been crowned Pub Chef of the Year.

Aimie Harley, Senior Sous Chef at The George Inn, Norton St Philip near Frome, scooped the top prize - Gold, in the ‘Pub Chef of the Year’ category at this year’s prestigious International Salon Culinaire competition held at the ExCel in London.

Aimie wowed the judges with her ‘Sharing Fish Pie’, made with layers of natural smoked haddock, Chalk Stream trout, wild garlic and leeks bound in a lemon salt butter shortcrust. 

She served the pie with crispy Hasselback potatoes, an assortment of sea herbs, kale and baby leeks and finished it with a white wine, trout roe caviar and chive cream, split with leek oil.

Read more: Somerset inn near Frome could be named UK's best pub 2024

Speaking on her victory, the George Inn Senior Sous Chef said: "I’m elated and overjoyed to have won Gold, having never competed in any cooking competition before. 

"I was eager to see how I would stack up against other chefs and deal with the pressure of cooking in a live theatre so I feel very honoured to be crowned Pub Chef of the Year."

Alice Bowyer, Director of Food, Liberation Group, Butcombe Pubs & Inns added: "Congratulations to Aimie. 

"Aimie showed real creativity and flair with her incredible fish pie which we’ll be adding to the menu in our pubs."