CELEBRITY chef Nick Nairn is set to cook up a storm in Inverclyde — after being confirmed as a special guest at Scotland’s Boat Show in Inverkip.

The Michelin-starred former Ready Steady Cook regular will deliver demonstrations in the food and drink pavilion at this year’s event at Kip Marina in October.

Student chefs from Inverclyde will also enjoy a culinary masterclass working alongside Nick after West College Scotland became a boat show sponsor.

Nick, who is currently filming another series of Big Food Trip with Paul Rankin, said: “I’m thrilled to be at Scotland’s Boat Show this year.

“I absolutely love boats; I even started my career in the Merchant Navy, and did my first TV series Wild Harvest sailing around the Scottish coast visiting Kip Marina during filming.

“I’m also really looking forward to working with the young hospitality students of West College Scotland and together we will be demonstrating some great dishes using some of our country’s finest produce.

“I’ve had to cook many a meal at sea, though I think I’ll be on terra firma for these demos so do come and visit us — it should be a fun weekend.”

The Inverkip event, which is free to attend, attracted a record 16,000 visitors last year and is the largest of its kind in Scotland and the biggest brokerage show in the UK.

Organisers say the popular food and drink pavilion will be even bigger and better this year and are delighted to have teamed up with the college so that young hospitality students will have the chance to work alongside famous TV celebrity chef Nick.

Kevin Blamire, of Scotland’s Boat Show, said: “The food and drink pavilion was hugely popular last year so we are delighted to join forces with West College Scotland’s hospitality, tourism and languages sector which, as well as giving young chef students the chance to work with the legendary Nick Nairn, will also offer event management students the chance to get fully involved with a local national event in Inverclyde.”

The pavilion will be filled with unique Scottish food producers selling and demonstrating their wares in an indoor ‘street market’ style setting, and there will be a live kitchen and stage area where visitors can enjoy cooking displays each day from Nick, ably assisted by young chefs from the college’s three campuses.

Jim McAllister, WCS’s head of sector for hospitality, tourism and languages, said: “We are delighted to be working once again with the team at Kip Marina at such a prestigious event for the industry.

“This will be a great occasion for our students to gain valuable experience of working at such a busy show which they will relish.

“The added opportunity for our students to assist Nick Nairn at the live kitchen and stage is unprecedented and it will be fantastic for them to see him in action.

“The college is excited at the prospect of being part of another successful event for Inverclyde.”