Big chef moves 2026: The major UK and Ireland chef changes so far

Nathan Cornwell has been named chef director at The Woodcote in West Sussex, four months after the closure of the Michelin-listed THE Silver Birch in Chiswick.

He is one of four appointments highlighted this week, with Mark Poynton stepping down at Norwich's only Michelin-starred restaurant, Jamie Keeble heading to Swinton Estate and The Cumberland naming new head chefs at both of its restaurants.

This is The Staff Canteen's running record of the big chef moves across Great Britain and Ireland in 2026. We update it every week, and we cover the same territory as the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland.

Last updated: Thursday, August 6, 2026

Alongside the biggest head chef appointments, we log the moves that tend to go unreported: the head chef who steps up to executive chef, the chef patron who stays in place while somebody else takes over the stoves, and the sous chef who finally gets the top job.

Know about a move we have missed? Email [email protected] and we will add it.

This week's biggest chef moves

Nathan Cornwell to The Woodcote, West Sussex

Nathan Cornwell has been appointed chef director at The Woodcote in Graffham, West Sussex, taking charge of the kitchen at Glen and Asta Manchester's restaurant with rooms.

Nathan spent three years as head chef at The Silver Birch in Chiswick, which closed earlier this year. Before that he was at The Barn at Moor Hall, where he helped Mark Birchall's second Lancashire restaurant win its Michelin star in 2022, and his career has also taken in Le Champignon Sauvage, Kitchen W8 and the Scandinavian kitchens of Geranium, Kadeau and Oaxen Krog.

At The Woodcote he is pushing the menu in an even more produce-led direction, leaning further into what can be grown and foraged on the surrounding estate. New dishes include Duncton Mill trout with lovage taramasalata and kohlrabi, and south coast lobster with garden cucumber and lobster hollandaise.

The appointment lands as the Manchesters press on with an expansion they have described as an ambition to create one of Britain's leading countryside hospitality destinations. The business has planning permission for 16 further bedrooms and a new 40-cover fine dining restaurant.

Mark Poynton steps down as chef patron of Caistor Hall

Mark Poynton has resigned as chef patron and director of Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall, Norwich's only Michelin-starred restaurant, after four and a half years on the project.

He will now focus fully on his Cambridge restaurant, Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton.

The restaurant at Caistor Hall has since announced it will close its doors following Mark's departure, on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

• Read our interview with Mark on his decision to leave

Jamie Keeble to the Chef's Table at Swinton Estate, North Yorkshire

Jamie Keeble is leaving Michelin-starred Mýse in Hovingham to become head chef of the Chef's Table at Swinton Estate in Masham, starting in September.

Jamie was part of the opening team at Mýse in 2023, working alongside founders Victoria and Josh Overington, and he has had a considerable year on his own account. He won the rising star award in the chef category at the National Restaurant Awards 2026 and reached finals week on Great British Menu.

• Read more: Who is Jamie Keeble?

The Chef's Table is a 12-seat room in the estate's historic Coach House, built around seasonal Yorkshire tasting menus with much of the produce coming from the walled garden. It reopens under Jamie on Thursday, October 1, 2026. He works under Steve Darou, who joined the estate as executive head chef in June after 12 years with the St John restaurants.

Jamie said: "Joining Swinton Estate is an incredible opportunity to create a dining experience that is personal, memorable and rooted in the seasons." He added that his cooking "celebrates modern British food, inspired by memories, tradition and the exceptional produce we have here in Yorkshire."

Matthew Hurry and Stefano Tortelli to The Cumberland, Marble Arch

Announced Thursday, August 6, 2026 · head chefs

The Cumberland in Marble Arch has appointed two new head chefs, with Matthew Hurry taking charge of the hotel's own food and beverage operation and Stefano Tortelli leading the kitchen at Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen.

Matthew Hurry arrives with more than 15 years in luxury hotels and restaurants. He was most recently head chef at The Angel Inn, a two AA rosette restaurant with rooms, and before that spent more than three years running the kitchen at The Stables at The Grove hotel and spa, overseeing a large brigade across several outlets. His career also takes in Hotel Café Royal, Sea Containers London, Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square and InterContinental London Park Lane. While at Hotel Café Royal in 2019 he won the M Young Chef of the Year award.

At The Cumberland, Matt leads the food and beverage offering across the hotel, including its Spanish tapas restaurant Lírica. The hotel also has 17 meeting and event spaces, the largest of them, Arena, holding up to 400 guests.

Stefano Tortelli joins from Bulldozer Group, where as brand executive head chef he led the group's Italian portfolio and oversaw the openings of ALBA in Knightsbridge and La Baia in Paris. He has held senior roles at Margot, Enoteca Turi, Bocconcino and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, consulted on the launch of Adare Restaurant in New York and cooked privately for the Getty family.

Stefano succeeds Kyle Lewis, who joined Hell's Kitchen from The Savoy in March and has since left. The restaurant was the first in the UK based on the television series.

Pedro Da Silva, general manager at The Cumberland, said: "We are delighted to welcome Matthew and Stefano to The Cumberland at such an exciting time for the hotel. Both bring exceptional talent and creativity, with a wealth of experience across some of the industry's most respected hotels and restaurants. Their appointments reflect our continued investment in delivering outstanding dining experiences, and we're excited to see them shape the future of dining at The Cumberland."

Chefs on the move in 2026, month by month

Newest first, and the featured appointments above appear here too, so this stays the full running record.

August 2026

• Matthew Hurry - The Cumberland, Marble Arch: Left The Angel Inn to lead the kitchen across the hotel's food and beverage offering, including its Spanish tapas restaurant Lírica.
• Stefano Tortelli - Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen, The Cumberland: Left Bulldozer Group, where he was brand executive head chef, to become head chef, succeeding Kyle Lewis.
• Kyle Lewis: Left his role as head chef of Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen at The Cumberland, where Stefano Tortelli succeeds him. Next move not yet confirmed.
• Mark Poynton - Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton, Fen Ditton: Resigned as chef patron and director of Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall in Norwich to focus on his Cambridge restaurant, Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton.
• Nathan Cornwell - The Woodcote, West Sussex: Left The Silver Birch in Chiswick, which closed earlier this year, to become chef director, alongside founders Glen and Asta Manchester.
• James Golding - The Larder House, Bournemouth: Joins as a partner after spells with The Pig hotel group and Rockwater, working alongside owner James Fowler.
• Matt Noonan - The Larder House, Bournemouth: Arrives as head chef from Michelin-starred and rosetted kitchens in Hampshire and the New Forest, under new partner James Golding.

Read more: Interview with James Golding and Matt Noonan on their move to The Larder House

July 2026

• Abismael Urena Castillo - Arcus Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, Bloomsbury: Left Wagtail in London, having previously cooked at Le Gavroche, to become head chef ahead of the venue's opening.
• Brian Scanlan - JA Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort, Glasgow: Left Cameron House on Loch Lomond to become executive chef.
• Fabien Spagnolo - Sune, Hackney: Left Bar Crispin in Soho to become head chef at Sune, replacing Frank Guest. Co-founders Honey Spencer and Charlie Sims remain.
• Alex Payne: Left his role as chef patron of Sorrel in Dorking following the restaurant's closure. Next move not yet announced. (Read our interview with owner Steve Drake on why he shut Sorrel)
• Scott John-Hodgson - Solstice and House of Tides, Newcastle: Promoted from head chef to executive chef across both sites. Kenny Atkinson remains chef patron and creative director. (Read more on this story)
• Chris Denney - Ronnie's, London: Becomes executive chef after a career taking in Chavot, Viajante and 108 Garage.
• Jamie Keeble - Chef's Table at Swinton Estate, North Yorkshire: Left Michelin-starred Mýse in Hovingham to become head chef from September, under executive head chef Steve Darou.
• Fai Choi - Hakkasan Group, UK: Left Mora in Hong Kong to become research and development chef for the UK.
• Grigoris Thanasis - Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO: Moves across from Saison within the same hotel to become head chef.
• Guy Betteridge - Park Hyatt London River Thames: Joins as executive chef.
• Shaun Searley: Announced he would leave Quality Chop House in London after 13 years to develop his first solo project.
• Charlotte Vincent - The White Hart, Wiveliscombe: Became head chef at the Somerset pub owned by Telegraph restaurant critic William Sitwell, having previously worked at Burgh Island Hotel in Devon.