Meet Lewis Barker, the Terre chef putting his stamp on East Cork's two-star Michelin restaurant

A Leeds-born chef’s global journey meets high-stakes pressure as Terre fights to retain Michelin acclaim in Cork

Executive Chef Lewis Barker at the Michelin starred restaurant ‘Terre’ in The Castlemartyr resort. Picture Chani Anderson

As dusk falls over the Liffey on a crisp, cold Monday evening in February, the lights in the curvaceous glass and steel atrium of Dublin’s Convention Centre assume a stellar twinkle, as befits the venue for the Michelin Guide awards 2026.

Inside, the atmosphere is electric, as Ireland’s and Britain’s top chefs mingle in an upstairs foyer, swilling premium champagne from the free bar.