Monday 4^th November 2019

Glynn Purnell, AKA the 'Yummy Brummie' made a welcome return to Signature in 2019.

Glynn started cooking professionally at the age of 14. After securing a work experience placement in a hotel kitchen, he spent the next two years catching the No 966 bus to the Metropole Hotel at the NEC where he was quickly promoted to making salads and flipping burgers. A six-year stint followed, gaining experience in every department from banqueting to the A La Carte Terrace Restaurant, where he discovered his talent and passion for fine dining. It wasn't long before he began winning awards including the prestigious Salon Culinaire.

His next professional step was as Chef de Partie at Simpson's Restaurant where he progressed to the position of Sous Chef. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star and Glynn went on to win many accolades within the industry.

After training with top chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi, Glynn travelled abroad to work with well-known Michelin starred chefs in Europe. He went on to help launch Jessica's in July 2003, which was awarded Birmingham's first Michelin star back in 2005. Glynn is now the proud owner of two establishments in Birmingham, Purnell's Restaurant on Cornwall Street, which opened in July 2007 and was awarded a Michelin star in 2009, and Purnell's Bistro & Ginger's Bar on Newhall Street, which opened in September 2012.

Glynn has become a household name after taking part in the Great British Menu, winning twice and then later appearing as a mentor. He has previously featured on The Great British Food Revival and The Secret Chef, among other television programmes. He can regularly be seen on Saturday Kitchen as a host and guest chef. He presented My Kitchen Rules UK alongside Rachel Allen on Channel 4.

Glynn's restaurants have won a raft of awards and accolades, with Purnell's earning a Michelin Star every year since 2009, being listed as one of the top 100 restaurants in the country in the Harden's Restaurant Guide 2016 and named best UK restaurant 2012 by BMW Square Meal. In the What's On Readers Awards, Glynn has won best chef in the Midlands for the past three years, with Purnell's being named the best Birmingham restaurant over that same period.

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