Michelin chef Kevin Viner to open Bournemouth restaurant Neo

The former National Chef of the Year will open the 200-cover Neo on 29 April.

A selection of ‘Modern British’ dishes will be on the menu, with grilled meat and seafood cooked in an indoor charcoal oven.

Neo will overlook Bournemouth pier and is expected to create around 50 jobs.

Viner said: “I always loved Bournemouth and came here on holiday as a child, so when I decided to move into the restaurant business in 1989 it was the first place I looked.

“Unfortunately there was nothing available at the time so I went to Cornwall only intending to stay there for three or four years and ended up staying for 20.

“Now I am incredibly excited to be executive chef of a stand-alone restaurant in Bournemouth, which I’m confident will develop a fine reputation and become a culinary destination.”

Boost for Bournemouth​

Neo will feature a cocktail bar, al-fresco area and a 20-cover private dining room.

Local chef Chris Howard will be heading up the kitchen, creating ‘quality food for all the family’.

Viner said: “I want to create a restaurant with a great reputation that will bring people into Bournemouth. I believe service is as important as food and prices that are competitive.”

Viner began his career at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and by 17 was cooking for private dinner parties hosted by Princess Anne.

At 23 he was the youngest ever lecturer at the Army School of Catering, and he went on to win numerous gold medals for Great Britain in the ‘culinary Olympics’.

His Blackwater restaurant Pennypots held a Michelin star for seven years until 2000, and he ran Viners in Cornwall until 2010.

More recently he has been consulting and cooking for the Prince and Princess of Monaco.

Bookings are now being taken at Neo for table reservations from April 29.