Freedom honour chef 'a little bewildered'
LDRSRenowned chef Terry Laybourne has officially received his Freedom of Newcastle scroll.
The Lemington-born restaurateur received his home city's highest honour at a ceremony at the Civic Centre on Wednesday.
Mr Laybourne was the first chef in Newcastle to be awarded a Michelin star, which came within three years of opening 21 Queen Street - now called 21 - in 1988.
At the ceremony, he said he was "privileged" though "a little bewildered" to find himself on the same list as former recipients Nelson Mandela and Sir Bobby Robson.
Mr Laybourne has collected a variety of accolades in his careeer including an Egon Ronay Star, Independent Restaurateur of the Year and a gold Taste of North East England award.
His company runs a number of city eateries including Broad Chare, St Vincent and the Saltwater Fish Company.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Laybourne paid tribute to the "great people" he had worked alongside over the years, with his restaurants having employed more then 5,000 staff.
But he acknowledged times have been tough for Newcastle's hospitality industry after Covid and with the partial closure of the Tyne Bridge.
"Quite frankly trading in the city is really challenging right now," he said.
"The communication routes aren't good. The bridge, the situation in Gateshead [with the closed flyover], the bottom end of the city is a mess.
"But you can see what's going on. Particularly with the work in Pilgrim Street, it is tangible now and you can see it everyday."
At the ceremony he was presented with a scroll by Lord Mayor Henry Gallagher.
His name was also carved into the sandstone wall of the Banqueting Hall at the Civic Centre, next to that of Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe who was also granted the honour earlier on Wednesday.
Gallagher said Mr Laybourne has "contributed enormously to the hospitality industry, the culture and the economy of Newcastle".
"He is a force of nature employing more than 5,000 and has done more than anyone to nurture young talent.
"It is with great honour that we bestow upon him the city's highest honour the Freedom of Newcastle upon Tyne."