Less than a year after re-launching Cheshire pub the Oak, retailers Max Baker and Steve Cooper have already celebrated an award win and are now making big plans for the future of their fine dining venue.

The pub, situated in the village of Kelsall just eight miles outside Chester, picked up the Best Newcomer award at the prestigious Chester Food and Drink Festival.

Future plans include developing the property’s seven letting rooms to open as a boutique hotel and achieving their ambition of being awarded an AA Rosette.

Max and Steve, both former conference and banqueting managers at Chester’s five star Grosvenor Hotel, first entered the pub trade when they took on the Punch owned Stanley Arms nearly four years ago.

Having developed a taste for pubs they were alerted to the opportunity at the Oak and worked with Punch on a £500,000 investment project that transformed the venue.

Max, who was brought up in Kelsall, said: “It has been a great first year at the Oak, winning the award was a real highlight and the response from customers has been excellent.

“Both Steve and I wanted to work for ourselves, and a leased pub provided the ideal opportunity to put our combined experience to good use.

“We had a successful start at the Stanley Arms and were then attracted by the potential of the Oak, which has been transformed into one of the area’s top eating out destinations.

“During the investment project we worked closely with Punch and the end product was excellent. The pub is a former coaching house and we doubled the trading space by putting a glass roof over the cobbled courtyard area.

“We have a young and ambitious team at both venues, who are mostly aged 25 or under and bring great enthusiasm to the job. We are also actively looking into other opportunities to expand our portfolio of pubs.”

Head chef Shaun Done runs the kitchen, creating a quality gourmet menu featuring lobster, turbot and scallops.

Max and Steve have celebrated further recognition at the Chester Food and Drink Festival, as last year the Stanley Arms picked up the ‘Best Pub’ award.

The Oak was also shortlisted for ‘Best Use of Local Produce’ and ‘Best Interior Design’ at this year’s awards.