He replaces Paul Walsh, who is moving on to oversee operations at Atherton’s new Betterment restaurant, which is to open within the newly re-branded Biltmore hotel on Grosvenor Square later this summer.
Lidakevicius was part of the City Social team when the restaurant launched in 2014, working as a junior sous chef.
The following year, however, he moved on to work as a senior sous chef at the Corinthia’s Northall restaurant, before going on to become head chef of the Peninsula Restaurant at InterContinental London.
Under Lidakevicius’ leadership, the Peninsula achieved 3 AA Rosettes and was featured in the Michelin guide.
The appointment comes at a time of significant change for Atherton’s Social Company group, which the chef founded with his wife Irha in 2011.
As well as the forthcoming opening of The Betterment, it was also announced earlier this month that Atherton had closed his Social Wine and Tapas restaurant in London’s Marylebone.
Back in April the chef also closed his Little Social restaurant in Mayfair, which he later relaunched as No.5 Social following a refurbishment.
He’s also rumoured to be reopening his Japanese restaurant Sosharu, which closed in August 2018, on Soho’s Greek Street this September.
