A MASTERCHEF winner has ended a two year search for the right venue and will be opening his own restaurant.

Steven Edwards will open Etch at the start of Church Road in Hove in the spring and told The Argus he could not wait to have his own permanent venue after holding various pop-up events.

He will also relish being close to the likes of The Connaught, The Ginger Pig and Hove Tandoori as he believes it is great to have other high quality restaurants in the same area.

The 30 year old left the South Lodge Hotel in Horsham two years ago.

"I've been searching for a restaurant since then," he told Taste.

"It's taken a bit longer than I wanted but I've found the right place.

"Doing pop-ups in between has given me time to find out exactly what I want from the restaurant.

"And I want to be surrounded by successful businesses and we will be near

Steven is best known for winning the sixth series of MasterChef: The Professionals in 2013 becoming one of the youngest ever winners of the competition at the age of 26.

Double Michelin starred chef Michel Roux Jnr. said: "His food is lovely. He makes food that is great to eat, expertly cooked, presented with a certain elegance, clean lines, and it works - fault-free."

Previous to MasterChef Steven trained with some of the country’s leading chefs including Raymond Blanc and Chris Wheeler before moving to the South Lodge Hotel in 2008.

After MasterChef Steven and his good friend Josh Stanzl came together to create the catering business Etch and the pair were going to open up the restaurant together until Josh was headhunted for a job in Dubai.

Etch will be Steven's first restaurant and though he is keeping tight-lipped on the menu he is promising to stay inspired by using fresh local produce.

"It's very much going to be similar to what I've been doing at pop-up events and will have taster menus," Steven said.