WORLD-CLASS chef Marco Pierre White has branded Birmingham a brilliant place to eat.

And in what is good news for food lovers everywhere he promised when planning new menus for his restaurants, including MPW Steakhouse, Bar and Grill at the Cube, his focus is to “make it affordable for every single person."

The talented maestro said: "I want to make it affordable for every single person in Birmingham.

"Every person in Birmingham has a special occasion and every person in Birmingham wants that special night out. If you want to push the boat out, then buy that bottle of champagne or expensive bottle of wine.”

He was speaking at an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking cookbook, White Heat.

Asked about the dining scene in Birmingham, Marco commented: “Back in the mid-80s, Birmingham was very industrial. The walls of the buildings were still black with soot. But Birmingham is quite cosmopolitan now.

“Over the past 35 years the standard has changed enormously.”

The youngest chef in the world to achieve three Michelin stars at the age of 33, Marco has now turned his hand to being a restaurateur, with a fast growing franchise of Steakhouses and New York Italian restaurants offering simply “affordable glamour” and good food, cooked well.

Alongside Marco’s current Steakhouse, Bar and Grill in Birmingham and New York Italian restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Midlands has another two restaurants to look forward to in the coming weeks, with a New York Italian set to open on February 16th in Kenilworth and February 20th in Leicester.

For those who wish to purchase an anniversary edition of ‘White Heat’, copies are available at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Bar and Grill, Birmingham for £25.