19 hours ago
James Martin's eye-watering fortune and how he 'nearly missed out on mortgage'
James Martin has become a household name thanks to his cooking shows and restaurants, but he has opened up about his money worries after 'taking a risk' with his first venue
James Martin has candidly revealed his financial challenges after taking a gamble by venturing into the restaurant business. The TV chef, 53, reflected on his journey with "complete faith" in each establishment since launching his culinary career at the Hotel du Vin in 1994.
The acclaimed chef maintains that the key to making a restaurant successful is sheer "hard graft", although he acknowledges the inevitable element of "risk" in opening a new venue.
In an interview with The Times, James shared: "Ever since I opened my first place at the Hotel du Vin in 1994 I have gone in with complete faith in myself and the people I'm working with. Making it work is not about money, it's about belief and it's about hard, hard graft.
"Yes, you're taking a risk, but you take that risk knowing that you will win. If I had any doubts at all, I wouldn't be doing this job."
Despite the initial hardships, James credits the triumph of his first restaurant with enabling him to take his first steps onto the property ladder. He recounted his struggle to secure a mortgage, having accumulated enough for a deposit yet lacking sufficient years of accounts, reports Yorkshire Live.
He continued: "They wanted three or four years of accounts. I finally went into the Bristol and West Building Society on the high street. Luckily, the lady I spoke to had seen me on telly and thought I had 'longevity'. I walked out of there with £150,000 to play with."
James disclosed that he initially purchased a modest three-bedroom flat across from the local estate agent. This humble beginning is a stark contrast to the plush seven-bedroom Hampshire residence he occupies today, complete with a sprawling 1.5-acre garden and a greenhouse.
The property is equipped with a swanky outdoor kitchen featuring a massive wood-fired pizza oven, an island and striking green industrial-style lamps. Notably, James Martin's Saturday Morning is produced on a dedicated set constructed within his premises.
James has been a staple on our TV screens since his debut on Ready Steady Cook back in the 1990s. He launched his own food series, James Martin: Yorkshire's Finest, in 1996.
His career progressed as he co-hosted BBC Food's Stately Suppers with Alistair Appleton and made contributions to the Richard and Judy show. In 2006, James took the helm at BBC's Saturday Kitchen.
He stayed with the programme until 2016 and kicked off Saturday Morning the following year. Just last month, James revealed his plans to take a summer hiatus.
He commented: "That is also for the series. Me and the crew are heading off on sunny holidays. Different climates."
While James soaks up the sun on holiday, his show continues to grace screens every Saturday morning at 9.30am on ITV One.
