John Bishop's love for cooking began when he was a child growing up in Newton Powys, Wales. Starting out by helping in his mother's kitchen to eventually as a young man learning the formal requirements of traditional French food preparation at a hotel school. After working as a chef in Great Britain, John moved to Vancouver in 1973.

Shortly after arriving he met and fell in love with his future wife Theresa. Together they have two wonderful children, David and Gemma. It was during this period that John began his career in Vancouver with local restaurateur Umberto Menghi - first as head chef then eventually becoming Maitre'd. At the urging of friends and investors during the recession of 1985, John opened Bishop's.

Since then, Bishop's has consistently been one of the city's top restaurants. Annually the restaurant receives top grades from local as well as all the respected North American guides.

John has authored four cookbooks with Douglas & McIntyre: Bishop's, Cooking at My House, Fresh and Simply Bishop's.