AN Ulverston chef who has starred on a BBC hit programme hopes the show will change his image.

Craig Sherrington, who owns Craig’s Kitchen at Virginia House on Queen Street, has found it tough since setting up his restaurant in the area three years ago.

The chef took to Twitter to express his disappointment after being labelled ‘pretentious  and posh’ by locals.

However, he hopes his efforts on the Great British Menu, which is watched by more than two million people, will give him a better reputation.

He said: “It has been really hard to build our business because we have been given a tough time by some people, including comments on Tripadvisor.

“Some people have also told others to avoid our restaurant because we are expensive and stuffy, which has damaged our business a lot.

“I hope after the show that they will see me and my wife Louise in a different light and see that we are normal, down to earth people.

Mr Sherrington also hopes that people all over the UK will visit Ulverston and boost the local economy.

He said: “I hope people don’t come to visit because I have been on Great British Menu, we are not like that. and we don’t want that.

“I want people to come and see what a fabulous place Ulverston is and the great things it has.

He added: “Everything we do as a business is for the town and I always say that quality attracts quantity.”

The South Cumbrian said the experience of cooking for Michelin-star chef Michael O’Hare has been the experience of a lifetime.

He hopes the programme can show the public what Ulverston is about.

Mr Sherrington said: “I hope it gets good exposure for Ulverston and the surrounding areas because it is a great place to live.

“A lot of people pass through the town on their way to Barrow without stopping or noticing.

“It would be brilliant for local businesses if the public came and checked out what we have to offer, because there are some brilliant places and some great things to do.”