Chef’s wife Adele keeps business running after illness

“It’s one of the hardest decisions he has ever had to make,” says Adele Bilton of her husband Tim’s decision to step back from the business which his been his life.

Tim and Adele took the difficult decision to stop the fine-dining side of the their acclaimed restaurant the Spiced Pear at Hepworth, after Tim discovered the cancer he was diagnosed with two years earlier had returned.

“When the Spiced Pear was launched, Tim was battling with the news that he was suffering from a rare form of eye cancer,” explains Adele.

With true Yorkshire grit and determination, and despite the devastating news, Tim battled on, winning numerous accolades for the restaurant and the tearoom.

But during a recent check-up, it was discovered that Tim’s cancer has returned.

“Last time he worked all the time, even returning to work a few weeks after major surgery,” says Adele.”
“This time he has accepted that he will need to take a step back from the business, to concentrate on his treatment and recovery. We talked for hours about what was the best thing to do. With Tim away from the kitchen, we felt we couldn’t continue the fine-dining side of the business without him at the helm. It was very hard. It’s his life.”

But Adele and Tim were both determined that the business Tim had dedicated more than two years of his life, and made family sacrifices to create would not fold.

“We have responsibilities to our amazing team here, although sadly we have had to let four staff go,” says Adele.

When the Spiced Pear opened two years ago, as well as Tim’s renowned fine dining, it soon gained a reputation for its afternoon teas.

“Tim was passionate that we had what he called ‘proper’ afternoon teas, with a Yorkshire spin on them. He even developed the Gentleman’s Afternoon Teas which has filled Yorkshire Puddings.” In 2013 they won the Yorkshire Post/Deliciouslyorkshire Taste Award for best afternoon tea.

“It seemed to make sense to continue and develop that side of the business,” says Adele, who has been overwhelmed by the support and messages of good will from customers and suppliers since they made their announcement.

“It was another difficult decision to go public, but Tim is well known, even though he doesn’t always admit it. And we didn’t want rumours to start and for people to think that we weren’t open for business”

And it seems the decision paid off.

“We did more than 100 covers in the tea room the other day – and that was a Wednesday. It is proving to be really popular, as well as cocktails.”
Adele is spending a lot of time at the Spiced Pear while Tim is at home regaining the strength to go through the gruelling treatment which lies ahead.

“He is due to have surgery in a couple of weeks at Sheffield Hallamshire and then we will learn more about his treatment plan. He’s exhausted at the moment and we are just trying to build up his strength.”

It is also difficult for the Biltons’ two young sons, Henry, who will soon be ten, and three year old Charlie, who are not used to having their daddy around.

“It was Charlie who asked why was daddy at home,” says Adele.

“He is too young to know what is going on. We have explained some of it to Henry, that daddy isn’t very well and will need to have an operation. He is a sensitive little boy and a real worrier anyway. But he gets upset, but then like all children he asks when he’s going to cricket in the next breath.”

Adele, a drama teacher by profession, met Tim when they were both at college. Tim was teaching catering while cooking at weekends, and Adele was doing her teaching qualifications. They married and when she became pregnant with Henry, Tim took on extra work at Bibis in Leeds before being offered the job of head chef.

But he really wanted his own restaurant and Adele recalls him coming home one day and saying: “I’ve had enough. I’m putting the house up for sale. I’ve seen a pub and I’m going to have it.”
“I’m the worrier and he’s the risk taker.” For the next five years they built up the Butcher’s Arms at Hepworth into an award winning pub.

During this time he published a cookery book, Bilton’s Basics and appeared on the BBC’s Great British Menu.

But it was often hard on Adele. “We were living above the pub with a toddler which wasn’t ideal, even though Henry loved it. I did feel like a single mum at times, but it is Tim’s dream and I support him.”

It was the same when they decided to buy and transform another pub near Hepworth which was to become the Spiced Pear.

Charlie was only a year old, but again Adele supported her man.

“I knew when I married him what he did for a living that he was a perfectionist and very driven. There have been sacrifices and it is only when something like this happens that you reassess your work life balance, You look at what’s important,” says Adele. Now Tim Bilton must take a back seat and let his wife and the dedicated team he has built around him, take care of the business he has built and nurtured.

“He still finds it hard,” says Adele. “He likes to be in control and runs every part of the business himself, not just the kitchen.

“It was pay day the other day and he still had to do the wages. He finds it very hard to hand things over.”

Adele knows the future is going to be hard for all the family, particularly Tim, as he undergoes treatment.

But if anyone can beat this disease, this gritty and determined Yorkshireman can.

The tea rooms at the Spiced Pear are based on a 1940s tea room.

All the crockery is vintage and was really the inspiration behind the tea room, as Adele Bilton explains.

“A few years ago a friend of mine was getting married and she had a vintage wedding. Afterwards she had all this china left over and asked if I’d like it. The vintage feel was really back in vogue and that’s really where it all started.”
The vintage feel runs throughout the tea room, from the cake stands, the lights made out of up turned vintage cups and saucers.

And it seems to be what people want as the Spiced Pear tea room has never been busier.

“We are also offering breakfast, brunch and our cocktails are proving really popular.”

At the moment the Spiced Pear is opening Wednesdays to Sundays from 11am to 5pm, although there are plans to open seven days a week.


n For more information visit www.thespicedpearhepworth.co.uk