Stuart, who also met his wife at Dart Marina when she was a guest during his first year at the Hotel, said: "I regard Dart Marina as one big happy family, everyone pulls together and even though it's my place of work, the Hotel has become my way of life. "It is a delight seeing guests return to Dart Marina year after year – so many people fall in love with Dartmouth and it's a pleasure to be able to greet familiar faces and chat about favourite boat trips, breathtaking walks that lead to incredible views and of course, where to find the most delicious Devon ice cream cone." Stuart first joined Dart Marina as an apprentice, aged 21, when menus included classics such as Steak Diane and Soul Veronique. The long-serving chef added: "Now, we may serve an Assiette of Pork with the farmer's name clearly on the menu, fish landed less than an hour before service, seasonal vegetables from a neighbouring farm, or local Red Devon Beef. I have loved being part of this change and in my opinion the producers now get the credit they are due. Our menus are all about provenance, careful sourcing, seasonality and flavour – a huge change for the better as far as I am concerned. "The pleasure in all this is that I really enjoy passing on what I know about the profession to younger members of the team and above everything I like being reliable." To mark Stuart's 30 year anniversary, head chef Tom Woods will cook dinner for Stuart and his wife at Dart Marina's 2 AA Rosette Restaurant and the couple have a trip to Paris to look forward to courtesy of the team at the Hotel. Chris Jones, general manager commented on the achievement: "Chefs work in extreme heat and under tremendous pressure for much of their careers - Stuart is a remarkable member of staff and we will all celebrate as he marks 30 years with us. Through Stuart's attitude to work and his ability to embrace new food styles, he has been a shining example to younger chefs and we feel very lucky to have him as part of our team."