A few moves & new openings in the pipeline.
This week the British Chambers of Commerce signaled the biggest sign yet that the UK economy is returning to previous levels of growth, not seen since 2008. With the Hospitality sector at the leading edge of the growth curve, it is hardly surprising that several chefs are looking at new openings & opportunities.
With Scotland being the hot topic of conversation at the moment, it seems only fair to start there. Several of the biggest names north of the border are looking at expansion plans. The 2 Michelin starred Martin Wishart looks to Scotland’s second city to roll out his Honours concept. The original restaurant opened as a less formal alternative to the Leith mothership in 2011. Now Wishart is believed to have secured a site in Glasgow, a market notoriously difficult to crack in terms of starred restaurants.
Martin Wishart’s neighbour in Leith, Tom Kitchin, is also set to open a new outpost. Kichin has apparently secured a large site in the Scottish capital for a food emporium; believed to encapsulate a delicatessen and a cookery school, along side a new informal style restaurant.
Of course, all this chat of Scottish chefs wouldn’t be complete without Gordon Ramsay. The celebrity chef has been absent from his home country since the closure of Amaryllis in 2004; proving that despite gaining a Michelin star in 2002, demand just wasn’t present for fine dining in Glasgow. Now it looks like Ramsay is set to return to Scotland, this time in the affluent Edinburgh suburb of Stockbridge. Unfortunately at the time of writing, it was unclear which one of the Ramsay brands was due to land, & an expected opening time frame.
Robert Thompson’s former haunt, The Hambrough.
Last week also saw the re-emergence of former Michelin starred chef Robert Thompson, after a significant hiatus, from The Hambrough. Thompson has surfaced at The George Hotel, on the north side on the Isle of Wight, a property which has held a star in the past & whose owners aren’t shy in displaying their aspirations in regaining the accolade again. Thompson was rumoured to be looking at a site in Shanklin for his own restaurant, but has decided that the security of employment to be the safer route for now. The Thompson led offering will be called Ila’s & open on May 1st .
Staying with the Isle of Wight; Noma alumni, Oliver Stephens, has suddenly departed Priory Bay and is currently plying his trade at The Seaview, who are awaiting the arrival of their new chef. Stephens was regarded as a future prospect for a Michelin star, especially with the island losing out in the current guide.
Other notable moves are Stewart Warner from the now deceased Stewart Warner at The Hillbark, to Great Fosters in Surrey. Replacing Simon Bolsover, who is going to Seaham Hall, was this move forced due to the demotion by the AA from 3 rosettes to 2? Who knows.Warner gained 3 Rosettes at Hillbark in September 2012, after his former employer, Aiden Byrne, pull out.
Most people are awaiting the unveiling in several properties, most notably Coworth Park & the recently demoted 2AA rosette Gravetye Manor, to see who’ll be heading up respective kitchens.
As ever with these types of post, I’d like to offer everybody concerned the best for the future.
I’d like to point out to anybody reading this, that this post was due for publication a week ago. But due to the #Blaggergate affair, it was postponed.
