People on the move: August 2018

Russell Bateman​

Russell Bateman has been named as the new head chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Petrus​​ restaurant in Knightsbridge. It comes after former head chef Larry Jayasekara left the Michelin-starred kitchen earlier this year. The move marks a return of sorts for Bateman, who cooked under Marcus Wareing at the original Petrus on St James’ Street and helped with its move to The Berkeley Hotel. Bateman joins from Colette’s at The Grove hotel in Watford, where the restaurant is currently closed for the summer.

Gaz Oakley ​

Vegan chef and YouTube star Gaz Oakley, whose channel AvantGardeVegan has over 492,000 subscribers, has joined plant-based burger brand Vurger Co as executive chef.​​ Oakley collaborated with the group in June to create a special edition jerk burger, which as on the menu at its Shoreditch restaurant for amonth. His appointment comes as Vurger plans to launch a second site in October after crowdfunding £600k towards its expansion. 

Eveline Noort​

Eveline Noort has been named as the new general manager at two Michelin-starred Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire. She will start her role in early September, working closely with chef-patron Raymond Blanc and hotel manager Sandra Mueller. Originally from the Netherlands, Noort has worked in hotels across Europe and joins from a position at Le Meridien Piccadilly London.

John Burton-Race​

Chef John Burton-Race has resigned from the trouble-hit​​ Richardson Hotel Group after less than two years. The chef told BigHospitality he had decided to leave as he had “taken the group as far as possible, as I personally could”. Burton-Race joined the Grosvenor Hotel in Torquay in December 2016 and it rebranded as the John Burton-Race – Restaurant with Rooms a year later following a major investment. But its parent company Richardson Hotels fell in to administration in January. Burton-Race wrote on Twitter that he is looking for a new executive head chef role.

Burnt Truffle​

Gary Usher’s Wirral restaurant Burnt Truffle has named Ashley Whittingham-Orford as its new manager, while Scott Griffiths is now head chef.

Whittingham-Orford refined her sommelier experience at Chester restaurant Opera Grill, before helping with the opening of Corks Out in Knutsford.

Griffiths, who cut his teeth in several local restaurants, has introduced new dishes to the menu including whole roasted duck with salsa verde; and crispy pigs head with peas, mustard and coriander dressing.

Frederick Forster​

Former National Chef of the Year Frederick Forster has returned to D&D London to take the reins at Plateau​​ in Canary Wharf. Forster previously led the revamp of D&D’s Le Pont de la Tour in 2015, before leaving to join Bleeding Heart Group’s The Don restaurant in The City after two years. The chef says he wants to use his experience, which includes time at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and Le Gavroche, to “elevate” the menus at Plateau.

Adrian Martin​

Iconic London restaurant Simpson’s in the Strand has hired a new chef de cuisine​ ​a year after its major relaunch. Adrian Martin has replaced William Hemming – who left in early 2018 following an overhaul of the historic dining room and menu. Martin’s appointment means the menu looks to be getting another refresh. The chef has cooked at The Ivy and Scott’s of Mayfair, and Simpson’s says is bringing a new “lightness” and “contemporary flair” to the menu.

Yann Bouvignies​

Yann Bouvignies is now head bartender at Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London. He has worked behind the bar at Scarfes for two years, and is now taking the reins ahead of launching a new cocktail menu in 2019. A native of the south of France, Bouvignies started out working in a number of hotels in the region before moving to London in 2015. He worked at London cocktail bar Purl, the Coburg bar at The Connaught Hotel before joining Scarfes in 2016.

Tamarind Mayfair​

Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Tamarind in Mayfair has named the two head chefs​​ who will lead its reopening in October. Karunesh Khanna and Manav Tulli will oversee what the restaurant describes as a “fresh new concept” when it relaunches after a six-month closure. Khanna was head chef at London’s Michelin-starred Amaya for 13 years, while Tuli led the kitchen at Chutney Mary at St James’. It comes after former Tamarind head chef Peter Joseph left the restaurant earlier this year after a decade.

Max Ostwald​

London’s The Ned has named Max Ostwald as its new head of bars. He takes over from Dan Berger and will be managing the site’s 17 bars, including the Nickel Bar, Millie’s Lounge, The Vault and the new Library bar – which serves champagne and martinis. Ostwald has worked in hospitality since he was 15 years-old and joins The Ned after five years working at Hawksmoor.

Ben Manchester​

D&D London has appointed Ben Manchester as bar manager at Bluebird Chelsea. He joins from Jason Atherton’s Social Company, where he oversaw the bars at Sosharu and Hai Cenato in London. At Bluebird he will handle the operations and menu development at the King’s Cross bar.