Chef Simon Rogan to open Claridge’s new restaurant in spring 2014

As one of London’s oldest and most regal hotels, Claridge’s is the embodiment of English glamour; and the restaurant in house is no doubt one of the all-time social hotspots for fine dining. Gordon Ramsay, up until June last year, held reign in the coveted kitchen but it is now the turn of Simon Rogan to carry the culinary baton. The two-Michelin-starred chef of L’Enclume in Cartmel, Cumbria, will take over at the helm of the iconic restaurant that is schedule to re-open in late April.

It’s been a long time coming for Rogan, who has slowly made his name in the London food scene, most notably with his two-year Marylebone pop-up Roganic, but now has a permanent place to call home in the Big Smoke. He is applauded for his inventive but honest cooking style as well as his use of local, seasonal produce and in keeping with Claridge’s classic taste it seems that this partnership will be a match made in heaven.

Rogan started by working under big names such as Jean-Christophe Novelli, John Burton Race and even legendary Marco Pierre White, before spending two years in Paris under Alain Senderens at Lucas Carton.  But it was in 2002 when he opened L’Enclume that he started to make waves in the food world, then again in 2008 with Rogan & Co. He has since taken over The Pig & Whistle and opened up The French and Mr Coopers House & Garden in The Midlands Hotel. To say Rogan’s restaurants have been well received would be an understatement. L’Enclume has received the following accolades in its lifetime: a 10/10 rating and #1 ranking in the Good Food Guide 2014; a second Michelin star in the 2013 edition of the Great Britain & Ireland Guide (the first Michelin star was awarded in 2005); full five rosettes from the AA Restaurant Guide (since 2010); Best Restaurant in the 2013 Observer Food Monthly Awards; Best Restaurant in the North West and 11^th in the top 100 in the Sunday Times Food List 2012 and 8^th ranking in the UK by Hardens. In addition, Roganic won the Square Meal/BMW Best New Restaurant in 2011. Based on this alone, the yet to be named restaurant at Claridge’s will be a knockout and will surely be a welcome addition to the London food scene.

Jessica Spiro
Photo: Courtesy of Claridge’s