The 42-year-old, who will open his latest restaurant The Social Eating House later this month, talks about how he made it to nine restaurants in the UK and overseas as well as his plans to open another two in London this year subject to negotiations - one potentially at Tower 42 and one with a major hotel group.
However Atherton, who said he took 'a massive risk' to set his own business up at the start just three years ago, said despite plans for growth he has no plans to roll out carbon copies of his existing restaurants and will work in partnership with chefs to run as he takes a step back from life at the stove.
"We have a collection of restaurants – and no single one will ever be replicated. We don’t want to roll any concepts out,” he says.
On comparisons with Ramsay, the chef acknowledges some of the wider parallels but believes he's a 'long way off' from his former boss's success.
“If I’m at all like Gordon in the culinary sense or in the business sense, that’s no bad thing," he says. "To this day he’s the best chef-restaurateur to come out of this country. But I’m a long way off achieving what he’s achieved. Don’t forget that Gordon won three Michelin stars at the age of 34. He’s probably the most driven man I have ever met.”
For more about Atherton's future plans as well as inspiration on how to wake up your breakfast offering, a focus on tea and coffee and more, pick up the latest edition of Restaurant, out tomorrow.
This month's Restaurant also includes:
- Table for Two interview with Clare Smyth
- Business profile of Oakman Inns
- The latest restaurant openings, including Brasserie Chavot, Ametsa with Arzak Instruction and the Clove Club
- Pearls of Wisdom interview with Vivek Singh
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