Pierre Koffmann to reunite with protégé Ben Murphy for first dinner in 74 Charlotte Street series

French chef Pierre Koffmann will reunite with his former protégé Ben Murphy at contemporary restaurant and cocktail bar 74 Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia on Tuesday 15^th September. It will be the opening event of Ben & Friends, a new programme of one-night-only collaborative dinners that will pair Murphy, head chef at the restaurant, with culinary colleagues who have influenced his work. Each evening will be built around a bespoke menu created jointly by the two cooks.

Koffmann, whose career spans more than five decades and whose kitchens trained a generation of British chefs, will lead the first dinner. The chef arrived in the UK in the 1970s and worked at Le Gavroche before opening La Tante Claire. He has been a defining figure in this country’s French cooking, and his former kitchens produced chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White.

The inaugural menu will begin with a Pissaladière flatbread, followed by Crab Salad with Granny Smith Apple and Cucumber, then Lobster Ravioli with Bouillabaisse. The visiting chef’s Pig’s Trotter à la Pierre Koffmann, one of the dishes most closely associated with him, will feature as a main course, with his Pistachio Soufflé to finish. Petits fours, including a Tarte au Citron and madeleines, will conclude the meal, which is priced at £250 per person with an optional wine pairing for an additional £95.

“Pierre has had an enormous influence on my career, so it feels incredibly special to welcome him at 74 Charlotte Street to launch Ben & Friends,” Murphy said. “I’m excited to cook alongside some of the best chefs in the world, with each collaboration bringing something unique and fun for our guests.”

Koffmann said: “Ben’s passion, dedication and respect for great ingredients have always stood out, so it’s a pleasure to be reunited in the kitchen with him. We’ve created a menu that celebrates our shared love of classic cooking, and I’m looking forward to welcoming guests for what promises to be a memorable evening.”

74 Charlotte Street, designed by Chris Bagot Architects, opened last October with Murphy heading up the kitchen and Rosario Cappiello taking the role of senior general manager. It’s the first London site from WSH Restaurants, the group that also operates The Clockspire in Sherborne, The Boxford and The Woodspeen in Newbury and The Braywood in Maidenhead. As well as à la carte and tasting menus highlighting “precise, playful British dishes”, the restaurant offers a wine list of around 300 bottles and a cocktail menu.

Further dinners in the Ben & Friends series will run through the year, each featuring a different guest. The participating chefs and details about the menus and booking will be released in the coming months.

Food Desk

Pierre Koffmann’s Ben & Friends dinner takes place on 15^th September 2026 at 74 Charlotte Street by Ben Murphy, 74 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QH. For further information or to book a table, visit the restaurant’s website here.