MERSEYSIDE celebrity chef Aiden Byrne is to take over the kitchen at the Hillbark Hotel in Wirral.

The Masterchef star, who was the youngest chef to win a Michelin star, says he’s coming home with the new restaurant, which opens to the public on Monday.

Kirkby-born Aiden, who made his name as head chef at the Dorchester, has launched a high end fine dining menu at the historic hotel in Frankby.

“I’m over the moon to be coming home to Merseyside,” said Aiden, 37.

“I’ve worked all over the country, but the one thing I really wanted to do was to open a fine dining restaurant near to home.”

Aiden came back north to open the Church Green in Lymm with wife Sarah, and while he was there met Hillbark owner Craig Baker.

“We’d been looking for the right spot for a fine dining restaurant for a long time,” explained Aiden.

“One day Craig came into the pub and we got chatting. Hillbark seemed like the perfect option. My wife is from Upton, so she knows this area like the back of her hand. She had her heart set on it, and the minute I visited, so did I.

“We love having the pub. But fine dining will always be my first passion, so it really was a dream for me.”