A well-established and thriving restaurant in East Street is celebrating winning the Best Place to Eat from this year’s Business Matters Awards.
Restaurant Tristan is run by Tristan Mason and Candy Potter, with the former managing the kitchen and the latter in charge of the restaurant.
Set up in July 2008 as the first recession struck the UK, Tristan said that hard graft and teamwork helped them survive a difficult first year in business.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, I’m over the moon with the award,” he said.
“Starting during the credit crunch, just as we opened being a new business did not make it easier, but hard work and determination have seen us through and I think we now have a reputation which is everything to me.
“We’re not a chain restaurant, and I think we are a step above the rest of the restaurants on the street at a really competitive price.
“I couldn’t do it on my own. It’s very much a team game and it’s about putting in the hard work and effort.
“We are all working for the same thing, not like a big company. It’s all of our livelihoods. We actually mean something to the business.”
PreviouslyTristan was a head chef in Lambourn, Berkshire, where he held a Michelin Star at the Hare Restaurant at age 29, before heading to London, but after deciding it was not for him he settled in West Sussex, near where his parents were living.
For more information visit www.restauranttristan.co.uk