Announcing £2m growth plans for Fino Tapas restaurants earlier this year, restaurant entrepreneur Mark O’Rourke will relaunch his restaurant 263 in Preston town centre, which was a huge success with the appointment of talented chef Oli Martin.

Oli Martin Lancashire, a finalist for BBC Masterchef: The Professionals in 2018 and winner of BBC Masterchef The Professionals: A Festive Knockout in 2020, and Head Chef of Hipping Hall’s 4 AA Rosette restaurants until October this year, is the UK’s ‘most upcoming He is shown as one of the promising chefs. “Oli had some persuasion to accept. He had already started to set up Foray Catering but we both instantly agreed and after discussing my vision for 263 he realized we shared very similar ideas, the Executive Chef role,” said Mark O’Rourke.

About his new job, Oli Martin said, “I wanted to take a step back from being at the stove and the general operation of the kitchen, to give myself more time to focus on the dishes and the way of serving. “Sometimes you really have to get away from certain things in order to grow.”

263 will open on Fridays and Saturdays from November 26 through Christmas week.