Famous British Restaurateurs

Jamie Oliver is an English restaurateur and chef who gained international recognition after appearing on popular TV shows, such as Jamie's Kitchen and The Naked Chef. In 2005, his Feed Me Better campaign helped introduce several children to healthier foods. He also established a charity restaurant called Fifteen, which employs disadvantaged young people.

Heston Blumenthal is a British celebrity chef whose unusual recipes, such as Scotch eggs and triple-cooked chips have been widely imitated. He is considered a pioneer of multi-sensory cooking and his scientific approach to cooking has earned him honorary degrees from several universities. In 2004, he won the prestigious Chef Award, joining the likes of Phil Howard and Gordon Ramsay.

British-South African chef and culinary expert Prue Leith had begun her career with a lunch-supplying business. She later launched her Michelin-starred restaurant Leith's in Notting Hill and a culinary school. Best known as a judge on The Great British Menu, she is also associated with various charitable initiatives.

Celebrity chef Rick Stein has managed the U.K.’s Stein Hotel and Restaurant with his first wife, Jill Stein. He later became the head chef and co-owner of Rick Stein at Bannisters in Australia, with his second wife, Sarah. He has authored cookbooks and presented culinary shows such as Seafood Odyssey.

It is believed Sarah Willingham had begun working in the hospitality industry at age 13. Apart from managing the popular restaurants Planet Hollywood and Pizza Express, she also manages a huge portfolio that includes The Bombay Bicycle Club and The London Cocktail Club. She has also been part of Dragons' Den.

Best known for his appearances on shows such as MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen, Gary Rhodes later also launched his own series, Rhodes Around Britain. He owned several restaurants in the UK and the Middle East. The celebrity chef shocked everyone with his untimely death at age 59 due to brain hemorrhage.

Born in England, Gary Mehigan, celebrated chef and restaurateur, received his initial training in prominent London hotels before moving to Melbourne, Australia. After heading several well-known restaurants there, he opened his own establishment and currently co-owns The Boathouse, located in Moonee Ponds. Concurrently, he can also be seen on televisions productions like MasterChef Australia and Far Flung with Gary Mehigan.

Celebrity chef Keith Floyd was known for his signature style of presenting, his impeccable dress sense, and his love for red wine. After quitting his initial military career, he took up petty jobs in bars and restaurants, and eventually made it big as a chef on BBC cookery shows.

Best known as the founder of the Design Museum in London, British designer and restaurateur Terence Conran had begun a furniture studio while still a student. He later launched popular interior and furniture design firms such as the Conran Design Group and Habitat. He has also penned several books.

Celebrity chef and cookbook author Antony Worrall Thompson initially took up a catering job in Essex, and then rose to become a head chef. He later launched several restaurants,including Ménage à Trois, which was Princess Diana’s favorite restaurant. He has also appeared on shows such as Food and Drink.

Jason Atherton is an English restaurateur and chef whose restaurant Pollen Street Social, which is located in London, England, earned a Michelin Star in its opening year. Atherton has also served as the executive chef at Chef Gordon Ramsay's popular restaurant Maze. Over the years Jason Atherton has won several prestigious awards like Arena Magazine's Man of the Year.

Alan Yau is a British-Chinese restaurateur whose culinary work earned him the Outstanding Achievement in the Arts award at the 2019 Asian Awards. Yau is credited with founding the Wagamama restaurant chain. He is also credited with founding several ventures like Hakkasan and Yauatcha which were awarded a Michelin Star in 2003 and 2005, respectively.

One of the co-founders of the chain of health-oriented fast-food eateries, Leon Restaurants, John Vincent has also penned seven cookbooks. He has also launched the School Food Plan, which has improved the diet of millions of students. He has chaired the Council for Sustainable Business, too.

Chef and cookbook author Rose Gray is best known for co-founding the Michelin-starred The River Café in London, with Ruth Rogers, her long-time collaborator, and for her series The Italian Kitchen. Before starting her cooking venture, she taught fine arts at a school. She had also opened a furniture business.