A New Life: Despite great success in the fashion world, Lee Bradshaw has returned to his first love, writes Brian O'Connell
Despite the stained chef's garbs, three-day stubble and unkempt hair, diners at Twenty in Killarney's Golf and Fishing Club are finding something strikingly familiar about head chef Lee Bradshaw. Many stop by the kitchen asking him to pose for a picture, wish him well or simply welcome him to the "Kingdom".
The former model and actor takes it all in his stride and gets on with his new role - as head of a busy restaurant in one of Ireland's most popular tourist destinations.
It's somewhat fitting though that Bradshaw should find himself running a restaurant on a golf course, given that his family have been involved in the catering business for decades and his great uncle was the renowned Irish golfer Harry Bradshaw.
Yet until very recently Bradshaw was more likely to be seen on a catwalk as opposed to a kitchen, finding himself very much in demand as one of Ireland's top male models.
It was a career though that never entirely sat comfortably with the young Dubliner.
"I got into the modelling purely by mistake actually. It was just one of those things I guess. It started through music, which is my first love. I was doing a PR shot for the cover of a demo to give record companies. This was around 1999 or 2000. I had finished school and had no plans to go to college.
"I came across Barry McCall, a well-known Irish photographer who I got to know through my brother, Dylan Bradshaw, a hair stylist. I was doing some shots and Barry recommended I should go see an agency."
The first few shoots were a nerve-wracking experience, yet the money was good enough to keep Bradshaw interested. At the time, professional modelling in Ireland was still a relatively uncompetitive business and there was a large variety of work available.
"I started off with the agency First Option. Being a typical bloke I'd no real desire to be a model. My first shoot was for Meteor in its first advertising campaign. I was the guy holding the phone.
"After that I did a shoot that was a mock remake of being on a tanning bed with a girl lying on top of me. I was quite innocent and had never been around these beautiful looking women and suddenly you're being picked for these jobs. I had palpitations and clammy hands!
"There was no such thing as a typical working week. The fashion industry here has changed a lot over the past few years. When I first started you would travel abroad a lot more than now. It's become a very cut-throat job now, and the money not as big as it used to be."
Four years in and Bradshaw felt his modelling life had run its course. He'd always had an interest in food and had worked in kitchens right throughout his school days.
An opportunity to be part of the TV show, The Restaurant, re-introduced him to the catering world, so when the time came to leave modelling, the transition was easy.
"Modelling is a fabulous life but it just wasn't challenging enough for me.
"I always had an interest in food and loved it from a young age. I worked with Conrad Gallagher many years ago and grew up in kitchens. I had been doing The Restaurant for four years as a waiter, so when it came to changing career, the food industry was an obvious choice, as it was something I knew I had a certain ability for."
Three months ago Bradshaw decided to leave Dublin and the fashion industry and became head chef at his own restaurant, Twenty, at Killarney's Golf and fishing resort.
The start-up of any new business is a stressful period, yet with no staff in place Bradshaw found himself working round the clock to get the restaurant up and running.
"When I first started I didn't have any staff in place and worked 58 days in a row.
"At the moment I do about 60 hours a week. We are a seven-day-a-week business, so it's very much hands on decks. It's a huge challenge but I am thoroughly enjoying it.
"A typical working day would be to spend early morning going through bills from the day before. So it's mostly computer work from 8.30am till 9.30am. Then I enjoy going to see my butcher and fruit and vegetable sellers personally. I'm usually back in the kitchen for 11 when it's busy right through till late night."
Does Bradshaw miss the allure of the modelling life?
"To be honest I do every now and again, especially when you're stuck in a kitchen for 15 hours a day sweating. I'd sometimes think I'd love to be back on a shoot. But to be honest I never looked at myself as being a model, it was just something I fell into. I enjoyed it while it happened and that's it. The job satisfaction I have now is immense, and I'm doing something I always knew I wanted to do."