He was the owner of the Michelin starred restaurant The Oriel in Gilford, County Down, Northern Ireland.
[2] Smyth worked in senior positions in several well-known restaurants, including with Paul Rankin at Roscoff Restaurant (Belfast) in its glory days, The Connaught, London, The Beechill Country House Hotel, County Londonderry, and Kilkea Castle Hotel (Castledermot, County Kildare).
He is best known for his own restaurant "Oriel" 1999-2006 where he earned Michelin stars in 2004 and 2005 as well as many other accolades and wide recognition for his modern style of Irish Cuisine.
[3] Smyth sold The Oriel in 2006 to work as a chef consultant for The Hilden Brewery who opened Molly's Yard Restaurant on Botanic Avenue Belfast.
In 2018 Smyth was appointed Head Chef at the Castle Leslie Estate, Glaslough, County Monaghan.