Chef Craig in the spotlight

thechapeliow
Nov 20
3 min read

At The New Inn, Shalfleet, we’re incredibly proud of the team behind our Beautiful Pub in a Beautiful Place. This year, we were delighted to welcome Chef Craig Martin, who joined Head Chef Dan Maskell’s talented brigade in Spring 2025. Craig has quickly become a valued member of what we affectionately call “The Dream Team” — bringing skill, passion, and a warm West Midlands charm to our kitchen.

From Bricklaying to the kitchen – A Chef’s Unexpected Journey

Originally from Solihull, Craig didn’t initially set his sights on the culinary world. In fact, he was headed for a career in bricklaying until his mum spotted his natural flair for cooking and encouraged him to pursue a different path.

Taking that advice, Craig enrolled at Stratford-upon-Avon College, studying Catering & Hospitality and earning his NVQ Levels 1, 2 and 3 — all while working part-time in a pub kitchen. This early hands-on experience lit the spark that would become a lifelong career.

Building a Culinary Career

Once fully qualified, Craig moved into professional kitchens across the Midlands, gaining extensive experience at:

• Golf clubs, where he catered for weddings, corporate events, and large functions

• A variety of popular West Midlands pubs, taking on senior roles such as:

• Head Chef at The Horse & Jockey

• Sous Chef at The Boat

Later, Craig became Head Chef and Area Support for a group of residential homes. While not a traditional restaurant environment, this role demanded exceptional consistency and versatility. Craig worked across multiple establishments, producing hearty, home-cooked dishes at volume and pace — all while ensuring reliability, precision, and top-quality results.

These years honed his skillset, strengthening his creativity, organisation, and ability to deliver flawless food under pressure.

A Lifelong Love for the Isle of Wight

So what brought Craig to our Island?

The Isle of Wight has been woven into his life since childhood, with countless treasured family holidays spent exploring our coastlines and villages. As an adult, Craig continued visiting the Island annually for the famous Scooter Rally — happily making the six-hour ride south to be part of the buzzing scene.

Now that he’s living here full-time, he’s proudly part of the Island’s scooter community… only now, the ride is much shorter!

Meet Lola – The Real Love of His Life

Craig’s constant companion is Lola, his beautiful miniature Dachshund.

When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll likely find the two of them enjoying long walks, especially their favourite route: Tennyson Down to The Monument. It’s their happy place — and Craig swears Lola has the stamina of a dog twice her size!