Niall Keating to leave Whatley Manor

20-Dec-2021 - Last updated on 14-Jan-2022 at 11:37 GMT

Chef Niall Keating is to leave Whatley Manor at the end of the year to focus on his other business ventures, including his recently launched Lunar restaurant in Staffordshire.

Keating joined the Wiltshire hotel as executive chef in 2016 and has attracted a string of accolades, including two Michelin stars for its The Dining Room as well as the Michelin Young European Chef of the Year award.

For the immediate future, Whatley Manor head chef Ricki Weston will step into Keating’s shows to oversee the entire kitchen operation, which also includes Grey’s Brasserie.

Whatley Manor general manager Sue Williams is likely to now be in the process of securing a high profile chef to take the reins at the hotels later next year.

She said that Keating had built on The Dining Room’s ‘strong reputation’ as one of the best restaurants in the UK, had supported the drive for sustainability across the business and had helped cement Whatley Manor’s place amongst top luxury retreats in the country.

Niall Keating - who has a stellar CV that includes Restaurant Sat Bains and San Fransisco's Benu - launched Lunar close to his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent last month.

The restaurant is run in conjunction with The Great British Experience Company (TGBEC) and is located within Wedgwood’s Barlaston pottery.

Described as a ‘modern dining experience’ Lunar is ‘progressive and creative’ and inspired by Korean, Japanese and French cuisine.