CITY restaurateur Paul Heathcote picked up his MBE from Buckingham Palace.

The Daily Post columnist, who was included in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, received his medal from Prince Charles yesterday.

Mr Heathcote, who runs some of Liverpool’s best-known restaurants, including Simply Heathcotes and The Olive Press, as well as catering at the Echo Arena, was recognised earlier this year for his services to the hospitality industry.

The Bolton-born chef said: “It is an honour to be recognised in this manner for doing something I really love.

“It has not been an easy year for anyone in the hospitality industry, but this award is not just for me, it is for the hundreds of hard-working people who have and who continue to support me on a daily basis.

“From the beginning, we set very high standards and the whole team has worked incredibly hard to maintain them.”

Since opening his first restaurant, The Longridge, just outside Preston, in 1989, when he was 29, Mr Heathcote has become a regular face on TV cooking shows, has published two books and designed a cookware range.

He has a portfolio of restaurants across the North West.

The 1994 Egon Ronay Guide nominated Mr Heathcote Chef of the Year and he received his second Catey Award in 1997 for Independent Restaurateur of the Year.

Mr Heathcote was praised for participating in the Adopt A School scheme, which teaches children about food and healthy eating.