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Matt Oakley

Oakley has always had a passion for wines and in 1999, met sommelier Barry Skarin, who has worked as Head Sommelier for Marco Pierre White and Michael Caines, in a pub.

Michael Caines

He subsequently spent a year and a half at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London, before embarking on three influential years under his mentor Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire, before moving to France to learn under Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu and Joël Robuchon in Paris.

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However, meeting with Andrew Brownsword in early 2000 resulted in a partnership and the purchase of the Royal Clarence, Exeter in October 2000.

see also