Welcome

Born in Kent, but now resides in Mid-Cornwall, not far from the port of Falmouth, Dale has worked at numerous restaurants and hotels in both his home county and Cornwall respectively.

In Spring 2023 Dale and partner Amy started damys, an alfresco dining experience cooked over wood fire between Falmouth and Redruth. Running his own restaurant has always been part of his grand plan and he has finally found the time and home in which to convert dreams into reality. Amy brings a wealth of 18 years front of house and general manager experience to damys, where they compliment each other perfectly. The shackles are off so to speak and Dale can truely bring all his creativity to the forefront in his own kitchen.

Dale had been at Gylly Beach Café in Falmouth for over 6 years, along with the team Dale introduced a fine dining evening menu alongside theme nights every month and BBQ grill and a seafood bar throughout the summer. Autumn 2016 also saw Dale's first foray on our TV screens, getting to the quarter finals of BBC's Masterchef: The Professionals. Previously to this, Dale fronted the team at Merchants Manor, Bustophers Bar Bistro and The Pandora Inn amongst many others.

After the struggles of the past couple of years with the global pandemic and economic struggles the future is starting to look bright again as Dale continues to challenge himself with preparing daily specials, experiment with new produce and push his cooking flair into new styles. As well as aiming to win more awards and accolades with his team and making damys a roaring success as he has been doing for many years, like every kitchen he’s ever cooked in.

Dale is a proud father of 3 and as anyone who’s ever met him will know, a life long Liverpool FC supporter and keen golfer. It also goes without saying that along with most chefs a healthy interest in all areas of food, produce and cooking.

Accolades

• Quarter finalist on BBC's Masterchef: The Professionals 2016

• South West Chef of the Year 2014, finalist in 2015 and semi-finalist in 2017

• Three time finalist and winner of the Cornish Challenge

• Joint second in The Food Magazines' South West - Best Local Chef of the Year

• Received highly commended comments from The Michelin Guide

• Winner of Best Café at the Food Magazine awards 2018 whilst at Gylly Beach Café

• Was Chef Patron at The Merchants Manor when the hotel was awarded 4 AA star rating

• Head Chef at Bustophers when it retained its AA rosette

• Was part of a team of local chefs that came together as The Cornish Chefs Club, raising £22,000 for local charities

• Chef at the Pandora Inn when it won Pub of the Year at the 2010 Cornish tourism awards

• Featured chef numerous times at the Cornwall Food & Drink festival

• Opened the 21st annual Falmouth Oyster festival

• Catered for the Falmouth Tall Ships organizers

• Featured chef at Padstow Christmas Festival 5 times

• Several appearances at Boscastle Food Festival

• Finalist for the Jus-Rol Pastry Competition

• Cooked for the 1966 World Cup winning football team