Matt Mason is the Executive Chef at The View Restaurant. He brings with him a combo of devotion to the kitchen and dedication to his family on this new journey, ready to contribute to the growth of our rooftop bar in Exeter, through a deep interest towards local and seasonal ingredients.
Born and raised in Devon in the 1970s, Matt’s keen interest in culinary arts is the result of the self-sufficiency of his parents’ allotment. This early experience instilled in him a philosophy rotten in making the most of Devon’s abundant larder and the finest seasonal produce, a principle that continues to revolutionize his cooking in the contemporary age.
He began his career under the guidance of Shaun Hill at Gidleigh Park. In 1995, a top breakthrough year, he took the reins of the kitchens at the Jack in the Garden, earning two AA Rosettes and multiple prestigious accolades. Examples? The 5th place in the UK’s Top 50 Gastropubs (February 2011), 60th position in the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants (October 2011), and the Western Morning News Readers’ Favourite Restaurant Award (November 2011). A cluster of successful achievements marked by the publication of the eatery’s first cookbook in February 2016.
Over two decades on, Matt took on the role of Head Chef at Winslade Manor. But the pride also comes from his partnership with West Hill Primary School (2007) to teach children about the role of seasonality in our lives, food miles, and freshness.
In the same year, Matt won the Professional Class in the South West Chef of the Year and was named “Devon Chef of the Year” by the readers of Devon Life. This is clearly the living proof of a professional journey full of memorable times in premium Exeter bars and restaurants, which brought him an invitation to join the prestigious MasterChef of Great Britain in 2010.
