TV star Fred Sirieix has heaped praise on the New Forest after he said it is one of his favourite places to visit in the UK.

The celebrity maître d’hotel has recently returned from his home country of France after watching his daughter, GB diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix win a bronze medal in diving.

But he said his heart belongs to Britain, adding: "I've been here for 32 years, which is longer than I've been in France. I feel British."

The enthusiastic TV personality, who with Gordon Ramsay and Gino D’Acampo has toured Europe and the US in search of culinary delights in ITV’s Gordon, Gino And Fred: Road Trip, is now focusing his attention closer to home, with his memoir, Seriously British.

The book is a homage to Britain by Fred, who moved here just over three decades ago at the age of 20 to take up a job at the three Michelin-starred restaurant La Tante Claire in Chelsea.

(Image: Bloomsbury/PA)

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Sirieix, who lives in Kent with his partner, who he calls ‘Fruitcake’ to protect her privacy, lists the New Forest as his top UK destination. 

He said: "In the New Forest I drank English sparkling wine, called Hambledon, for the first time. You’ve got to get a bottle, it’s very good. There’s a fruitiness to it, it’s biscotti with lovely fine bubbles and it’s perfectly balanced, very elegant.

“I was staying in a hotel with Fruitcake and we were drinking it in the spa. It was a lovely, romantic experience.

“I love the woods in the New Forest – you can walk for miles and I love being lost in the British countryside. It’s also very close to the sea so you’ve got the best of both worlds, not only in terms of food but in terms of scenery. You have the wild ponies.”

(Image: Jonathan Ring/PA)

The other destinations in Fred's top five are The Gower Peninsula in Wales, Edinburgh in Scotland, Country Antrin in North Ireland and Kent, mainly the countryside around his home in Bromley.

Fred and celebrity grocer Chris Bavin were spotted in several familiar locations on TV screens back in 2021. The BBC's Remarkable Places to Eat series included an episode dedicated to finding the best dining experiences the New Forest has to offer.

Fred, who grew up in Limoges in France, is best known for appearing on Channel 4's First Dates, and BBC Two's Million Pound Menu. Until his TV career took off, he was the general manager of Michelin-starred restaurant Galvin at Windows at the London Hilton.

Seriously British by Fred Sirieix is published in hardback by Bloomsbury, priced £20. It's available now.