Jack Hunter, 20, has become one of the UK’s youngest restaurant owners after opening Hunter’s Restaurant in Hartlepool. The 40-cover venue has launched in Marina’s Navigation Point offering modern British food with a “few crowd pleasers like burgers and steaks” as well as a vegan menu, all using locally sourced produce. Hunter undertook a Level 2 apprenticeship in hospitality and catering and Level 3 in professional cookery while working at Krimo’s restaurant in the town. Hunter told BDaily: “Working as an apprentice taught me how to handle responsibility. I had to learn the fundamentals fast. You have to get it right and move quickly because of the high-pressured environment of a fully working restaurant. You get rewarded for working hard. In two years as an apprentice, I moved from being a commis chef to sous chef. To get a full qualification and to work at the same time was important to me. If I didn’t have the apprenticeship, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I raised my own money and got help from my dad, a bank loan and money from other investors but the name on the lease is mine and, at the end of the day, it all rests on my shoulders. It’s always been my dream to open my own restaurant, I just didn’t think it would be this early!”
@paulcharity
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