Nick Nairn
Nick Nairn | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 12, 1959 Stirling, Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Celebrity chef, restaurateur, television presenter |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | Youngest Scottish chef to be awarded a Michelin star; appearances on BBC's Ready Steady Cook and other shows |
Nick Nairn (born 12 January 1959) is a renowned Scottish celebrity chef who, in the early 1990s, became the youngest Scottish chef to be awarded a Michelin star.
Early life
Nairn was born in Stirling and grew up in the village of Port of Menteith. He attended McLaren High School located in Callander before enlisting in the merchant navy at age 17 in 1976. He pursued studies at the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and remained in service until 1983. He now lives in Bridge of Allan.
Work
Despite lacking formal culinary education, Nairn established his inaugural restaurant, Braeval near Aberfoyle, in 1986. The establishment was awarded a Michelin star in 1991, making him the second youngest Scottish chef to receive such an honor. In 1998, he opened Nairns restaurant in Glasgow, followed by the launch of a cookery school at Lake of Menteith in 2000. After selling his Glasgow venue in 2003, he concentrated on his cookery school and business enterprises. He further expanded by inaugurating a second cookery school in Aberdeen in 2012.
Nairn rose to national prominence as a frequent chef on BBC's Ready Steady Cook starting from 1995. He also hosted several shows, including Wild Harvest, Island Harvest, and co-presented The Great Food Guys, which highlighted Scottish ingredients. Between 2007 and 2009, he was the presenter of BBC Scotland's Landward. In 2008, he won the Scottish round of the BBC series Great British Menu, where he prepared dishes for Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday celebration.
His dedication to promoting Scottish cuisine and healthy eating earned him honorary doctorates from the University of Stirling in 2007 and from Abertay University in 2016.
In December 2017, Nairn was the victim of an assault in Aberdeen. On 28 August 2021, a fire caused significant damage to his Stirling-based restaurant, Nick's; fortunately, no injuries were reported.