12 Facts About Mark Hix

Mark Ernest Hix is an English chef and restaurateur whose traditional English menus often feature foraged and local foods.

Mark Hix's parents divorced when he was six; while his brother Kevin went to live with their mother, their father had custody of Mark.

Mark Hix decided to take domestic science rather than metalwork because he heard it was a good place to meet girls; to his surprise, he won a cooking award not long after.

Mark Hix moved to London from Dorset when he was 18 and his first job was in the staff canteen at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Mark Hix had his first head chef position at age 22.

In 2005, while still working for Caprice, Mark Hix opened The Rivington Bar and Grill, which he operated anonymously until Caprice later bought the restaurant.

Back home in Dorset, Mark Hix opened the HIX Oyster and Fish House and boutique hotel the HIX Townhouse, both in Lyme Regis.

Mark Hix previously operated a Champagne and caviar bar inside Selfridges on Oxford Street, which was open between 2010 and 2013, and a small pop-up cocktail bar, opened in 2013 and now closed.

Mark Hix has purchased The Fox Inn in Corscombe from PJ Harvey's mother, a family friend, and opened the country pub in December 2020 on his 58th birthday.

Mark Hix competed in the BBC television series Great British Menu in 2007, winning the South West England heat and beating the reigning champion, Michael Caines.

Mark Hix has appeared on Saturday Kitchen, Food and Drink, This Morning, Global Pulse, and the minidocumentary Mark Hix on Salt.

Mark Hix was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to hospitality.