Ironbridge chef Suree Coates named Midlands Chef of the Year and moves to The White Hart

One of Shropshire's smallest restaurants has won one of the region's biggest culinary accolades. Chef Suree Coates, chef patron of Suree's Kitchen in Ironbridge, has been named Midlands Chef of the Year 2026, beating competition from leading chefs in Birmingham, Coventry and across the Midlands.

Originally from Thailand, Chef Suree has built her reputation on dishes inspired by family recipes, with spices freshly ground and sauces made entirely from scratch. Her cooking pairs traditional Thai techniques with carefully sourced Shropshire ingredients, and she is known for making her food accessible to guests with allergies, coeliac disease and other dietary needs.

"To receive Midlands Chef of the Year is something I never imagined when I first opened my little restaurant in Ironbridge over 25 years ago," she said after receiving the award in Birmingham. "I cook every dish as if I were cooking for my own family and this award belongs as much to my customers, supporters and team as it does to me."

Hospitality consultant James Day, a long-time supporter and business partner, said Suree "has created something genuinely special in Ironbridge".

The award has been followed by a new chapter. With Suree's Kitchen consistently fully booked, and her Thai Tapas lunches proving particularly popular, Chef Suree is moving the restaurant into The White Hart, the historic riverside inn in Ironbridge, and taking charge of food at the pub. New menus pair her Thai cooking with British pub classics reimagined in her own style.

The move brings more seating, a dedicated bar, riverside courtyard dining and the chance to stay over, as The White Hart and its sister pub The Water Rat offer 13 en-suite bedrooms between them. The bar will stay open through the day for drinkers.

"Our customers have been amazingly loyal over the years and we have simply outgrown our current restaurant," Chef Suree said. Alex Nicoll, of the family-owned Ironbridge Pub Company, called it "two successful local businesses combining their strengths to create something genuinely special for Ironbridge".

Suree's Kitchen at The White Hart is on the riverside in Ironbridge. Menus and bookings are available through The White Hart Ironbridge website.