Chef Allen joined Launceston Place as head chef in February 2012, bringing with him a wealth of experience, incorporating his own style of clean cooking into the new menu. Within the same year he was awarded a coveted Michelin Star, published in the 2013 Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland.
He started his culinary career working as a commis chef at The 3 Three Owls Country Inn in Huddersfield in 1991. After this, he worked at Mustard and Punch in Huddersfield and Pool Court in Leeds, before becoming chef de partie at Racasse in Leeds. In 1996, Allen joined Studley Priory in Oxford where, after a year, he moved up to the position of sous chef. Moving to Reading, he worked as both chef de partie and junior sous chef at L’Ortolan for two years. In 2001, he took the position of senior sous chef for John Burton Race at The Landmark Hotel, and in 2003, moved to Whatley Manor in Malmesbury where he has worked for 7 years.
Chef Allen’s dishes combine seasonal British flavours and ingredients with touches of theatre and refined aesthetics to create a holistic Michelin star quality experience.
Describe your culinary philosophy in 5 words…
Honest, depth, precise, consistent, approachable
What is your greatest inspiration?
The produce – everything stems from excellent quality ingredients
If you could take a plane ride to anyrestaurantin the world, just for one meal, where would you go?
Lagioule in France
What three things would you take to a desert island?
Matches to make a fire and to cook, my favourite knife and a beautiful woman!
- 1 Michelin Star| Launceston Place
- 4 AA Rosettes| Launceston Place
1a Launceston Place
London
W8 5RL
UK
+44 (0) 20 7937 6912