The 26-year-old Essex-born chef joins from his role as head chef at Michelin-starred Alyn Williams at The Westbury, in Mayfair, and is now the youngest head chef in the five-star London hotel restaurant’s 88 year history. He has previously worked at restaurants including Le Talbooth in Essex and L’Autre Pied and Dabbous in Fitzrovia having begun a career in cooking at the age of 15.
Booton’s arrival is described as marking the next chapter for The Grill at The Dorchester, which is looking to bring in fresh young talent as part of a relaunch of the restaurant. In addition, chef Adam Nevin has been appointed sous chef with Kieran McLoughlin set to join from Hide in Mayfair next month to become the restaurant’s general manager.
In June this year, the hotel appointed Switzerland-born Stefan Trepp as executive chef, replacing Henry Brosi, who retired at the start of the year after 20 years in the position at the hotel.
“Tom Booton’s talent and energy provide a formidable match in re-affirming The Grill at The Dorchester’s position as a leading London dining classic,” says Robert Whitfield, regional director UK and general manager of The Dorchester. “2019 marks a new culinary chapter for The Dorchester, with the recent appointment of Stefan Trepp, our first executive chef in twenty years, and this autumn’s re-launch of The Grill under Tom’s watch.”
Booton’s new menu will be unveiled in early October.