THE businessman behind a Michelin-starred Ribble Valley restaurant has been given a slice of the limelight.

Craig Bancroft, who runs Northcote Manor in Langho with celebrity chef Nigel Haworth, has won a coveted place in the Academy of Food and Wine’s Hall of Fame.

Mr Bancroft joined the crème de la crème of the industry at a gala dinner hosted by last year’s winner Peter Avis in Babylon Restaurant, Kensington.

He said: “I am really proud because if you look at the names in the hall of fame they are the great and good of the restaurant industry and they are all people that I look up to because these guys are iconic.

“It is a bit like being put into a list of the top 20 footballers in the country.

“The work that goes on in the background in any restaurant is not always recognised and it is fantastic that my team’s support to help Nigel and Lisa make fantastic food has been acknowledged.”

The joint managing director of the Langho restaurant was born in Whalley and now lives with his wife Helen and two sons, James and Christopher, in Brockhall Village.

He embarked on a career in the restaurant industry after completing a five-year management course working at a number of high profile addresses including Plaza Athenee in Paris, Browns, Westbury and Grosvenor House, London.

He was appointed general manager of Northcote in 1983 and was awarded the Acorn Award by the Caterer and Hotelkeeper in 1989 as one of the 30 most promising under thirties in the industry.

In the same year he became joint managing director and took a 50 per cent stake in the business.

Due to his wine expertise he has made appearances on Richard and Judy, Granada and Sky television.

He added: “I still can not believe that I was invited into the hall of fame but I think it is because after 26 years we are one of the best in the industry.

“Nigel and I will continue to strive for excellence in our business and continue to expand.”