Mark met wife Sandra when they both worked at Carluccio's in Windsor. Mark worked with Antonio Carluccio himself and spent time at the ICIF culinary institute in Turin.

In 2011 Mark and Sandra decided to leave Carluccios and embark on managing their own pub restaurant; The Three Tuns in Henley on Thames. It was a big challenge and a huge learning curve but over time the reputation of good food and a warm welcome began to grow and The Three Tuns became a very successful business.

In 2014 they decided it was time for pub number two and they found The Chequers Inn at Berrick Salome and fell in love with it. They said goodbye to the 'Tuns' and began concentrating all their efforts on The Chequers.

Sandra has now left the pub business and has established herself in the bespoke soft furnishings and interior design business (https://www.sandradugganfurnishings.com/)

Mark has also moved forward and taken on The Red Lion at Cholsey. He offers a very similar menu to the Chequers and provides the same warm friendly and welcoming service offered there.