Mum on a mission to spice up great British tradition

13 Jun Mum on a mission to spice up great British tradition

Victoria Cullen, tenant and head chef at The Red Lion in Holt Heath.

A life-long passion for cooking has inspired a Nigerian-born mother-of-two to follow her dream of running an English country pub.

Victoria Cullen, the new tenant of The Red Lion in Holt Heath, near Worcester, has a bold vision for the Witley Road venue and hopes to attract villagers and visitors from further afield by serving authentic Afro-Caribbean cuisine alongside traditional British favourites.

“I’m showcasing the food I’ve grown up with and that I love to cook,” said Victoria.

“So far the reaction to our Afro-Caribbean dishes including curry goat has been really encouraging. There’s a strong focus on fish such as tilapia and hake and for the summer we’re introducing catfish and an exciting new menu.

“We’re also revamping the outdoor family area and will have a Caribbean grill serving meat and fish, accompanied by reggae and African music.”

Victoria’s love of cooking is in the genes as her mum Grace and grandmother Juliana both ran eateries.

After attending catering school and learning the ropes at restaurants and hotels, Victoria studied for a degree in business before joining the high pressure world of banking and finance.

When she had her first child nine years ago, Victoria returned to cooking and set up her own company, Kidderminster Catering.

Victoria has no illusions about the hard work and long hours involved in running a pub: “It’s a learning curve and every day brings different challenges but the positive feedback we’re getting has given me lots of encouragement,” she added.