Tim Bilton: YEP Leeds Oliver Awards winner quits the kitchen

Three years ago cooking was his world, now Tim Bilton says he won't cook professionally again.
Chef Tim Bilton at his restaurant the Spiced Pear.Chef Tim Bilton at his restaurant the Spiced Pear.
Chef Tim Bilton at his restaurant the Spiced Pear.

The Great British Menu chef was at the height of his career and on course for his first Michelin star when cancer struck.

“I was a perfectionist,” he admits. “I loved my wife and childen, but I lived for the business and for building a future for my boys. Now that has all changed. My entire outlook on life has changed. Dealing with something like this makes you reassess what is important and wha is important is Adele and the boys and spending as much time as I can with them - that is all they want.”

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Tim was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer just weeks before opening his fine dining restaurant the Spiced Pear at Hepworth three years ago.

But with true Yorkshire grit he was back behind his stove straight after the operation and radiotherapy. This week Tim celebrated winning the Outstanding Contribution Award at the YEP Oliver Awards.

“It didn’t occur to me to stop working. I just had to carry on,” he said.

He may have carried on and to those who relished his cooking at the Spiced Pear nothing was wrong, but for two years Tim’s battle with the cancer continued.

Tim’s wife Adele. who has written a blog about their journey with cancer.

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