Daniel Clifford (chef) first commis chef at The Bell Inn in 1992, and became a demi-chef de partie at Marco Pierre White's Box Tree through 1993. He gradually moved up in responsibility through a variety of restaurants including working in France until becoming a senior sous chef at Rascasse in Leeds in 1996, where he worked until being named head chef of his current restaurant, Midsummer House, in 1998. Clifford was awarded his second Michelin star at Midsummer House in the 2005 list. It was the only new restaurant to earn a second Michelin star that year, and became one of eleven restaurants
Kevin Thornton (chef) the ranks of Irish restaurants with the most Michelin stars. Thornton was the first Irish chef to achieve two Michelin stars. Thornton has received numerous awards and was named "Food & Wine Magazine"/'s Chef of the Year for Ireland in 2007 and been described as a "gastronomic legend" in Ireland. Thornton's was named Number 25 in the 50 Best Restaurants in the World by Taste Magazine UK in 2003. Thornton views his profession as being similar to theatre and performance and was famously embroiled in a controversy in 2007 surrounding his alleged refusal to sell chips to his restaurant customers,