Caines was born in Exeter in 1969 and was adopted by Patricia and Peter Caines, one of six children. He attended Exeter Catering College where he was awarded ‘Student of the Year’ in 1987. From 1987 to 1989 he worked at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London, followed by three years working under his mentor Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire. He then moved to France to study under Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu and Joël Robuchon in Paris. He became the Head Chef at Gidleigh Park in 1994 but he lost his full right arm in a car accident soon afterwards. In 1999, Gidleigh Park was awarded a second Michelin Star, and in 2001 Caines won Chef of the Year at The Catey Awards. Caines departed Gidleigh Park in January 2016 and was replaced by Michelin-starred chef, Michael Wignall. Michael Caines Restaurants Ltd was founded in 1999 and the Michael Caines Restaurant opened at the Bristol Marriott Royal in July 2003. However, a meeting with Andrew Brownsword in early 2000 resulted in a partnership and the purchase of the Royal Clarence Hotel, Exeter in October 2000. In 2016 the hotel suffered a devastating fire and is currently being rebuilt by Andrew Brownsword. Together they developed the ABode Hotels concept. Currently there are 5 hotels in ABode Hotels: Exeter, Canterbury, Glasgow, Manchester, and Chester. Caines was also executive chef for The Bath Priory from 2009 until 2017, a position now held by Michael Nizzero. He was appointed Director of Food & Beverage for Andrew Brownsword Hotels in 2012, a role he held until July 2014. Caines became involved in catering for the WilliamsFormula 1 team in 2013 and, as of the 2017 Grand Prix season, is seen regularly in Williams attire in the paddock. Caines and John Burton Race represented the Southwest of England in the BBCtelevision seriesGreat British Menu in 2006. Caines beat the Dartmouth based chef to go on to the final round. Caines was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire on 17 June 2006. Caines launched The Michael Caines Academy in 2011 at Exeter College. In 2015, Caines resigned from Gidleigh Park and ABode Hotels to pursue other business interests. In 2017, Caines opened Lympstone Manor a luxury boutique hotel and restaurant near Exeter, Devon which he describes as "the realisation of a dream, my vision of country house hospitality for the 21st Century". He also plans to establish a vineyard in the estate to produce a house champagne-method sparkling wine. In January, 2020 it was announced that Caines will relaunch The Cove Restaurant, situated in Maenporth near Falmouth in Cornwall, which had been owned and operated by Arty Williams and Annette Rickard for 17 years. The relaunch began on 10 March, 2020 and will offer a 'relaxed and informal approach to dining that is designed to attract families, locals and holidaymakers alike'. In addition to his Michelin-starred Lympstone Manor Hotel and Restaurant as well as The Cove Restaurant, Caines also owns the Coach House Restaurant at the Kentisbury Grange Hotel in Devon.
Personal life
Caines lives near Exeter in mid-Devon. He has two daughters and a son. As an adopted child and amputee, he supports a number of local agencies and amputee initiatives and charities. He is a Patron of 'Families for Children Trust', a voluntary adoption agency covering Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.
