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

charlie Tayler has left Aulis London after six years to become executive chef at The Poet in Farringdon, one of four big moves leading this week's update, alongside Mark Catchpole's appointment as his successor.

Stephen Terry's return to the kitchen at Sant Ffraed House and Colin Nicholson's departure from Mingary Castle also feature.

This is The Staff Canteen's running record of the big chef moves across the UK and Ireland in 2026, the head chef appointments, executive chef promotions and chef patron changes at the restaurants, hotels and pub kitchens that matter to the industry.

Last updated: Friday, September 18, 2026

• Every restaurant added to The Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland in 2026

Alongside the headline appointments each week, we log the moves that tend to go unreported: promotions from within, restructures, and the departures those appointments imply.

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

This week's biggest chef moves

Charlie Tayler leaves Aulis London for The Poet

Announced Thursday, September 17, 2026 · executive chef

Charlie Tayler has left his role as head chef of Aulis London to become executive chef at The Poet in Farringdon, ending six years with Simon Rogan's UMBEL Hospitality group. Aulis, the 12-seat chef's table in Soho, won a Michelin star in 2024, and Charlie has been succeeded there by Mark Catchpole.

Charlie told The Staff Canteen: "I've been there for six years. It's quite a stint, and I'm happy and proud of what I've achieved there."

On the decision to leave, Charlie said: "This opportunity came that I didn't want to say no to."

He worked a six-month notice period rather than the four weeks his contract required to give them the best handover and transition period he could.

Charlie previously worked at Alyn Williams at The Westbury, and spent time at Simon's three-Michelin-starred L'Enclume in Cartmel while Aulis was being refurbished.

The Poet is a Victorian pub at Smithfield Market running across four floors, with a 45-seat restaurant, a cocktail bar called Shambles and a ten seat chef's table. Charlie said: "There are four floors and every floor is a different concept." He joins the project alongside Honey Spencer, Charlie Sims and Spencer Large.

• Read our interview with Charlie here

Mark Catchpole joins Aulis London

Announced Wednesday, September 16, 2026 · head chef

Mark Catchpole has been appointed head chef of Aulis London, the Michelin-starred 12-seat chef's table in Soho, succeeding Charlie Tayler. He reports to Simon Rogan and works alongside Oli Marlow, global executive chef of UMBEL Hospitality, who continues to oversee the site.

Mark spent three years at Roganic in Hong Kong from March 2022, another of Simon's restaurants, rising to senior sous chef and working with Oli and head chef Adam Catterall. He has also cooked at The Fat Duck and at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London, and at Attica in Melbourne under chef owner Ben Shewry.

Mark said: "I'm incredibly excited to be working with Simon and Oli again and to take on this next chapter at Aulis London. During my time at Roganic Hong Kong, I learnt so much from them and developed a real understanding of Simon's approach to food, produce and creativity.

"It's a real privilege to be trusted with this role, and I'm looking forward to building on everything the team has created at Aulis so far."

• Read more on this story here

Stephen Terry returns to the kitchen at Sant Ffraed House

Announced Thursday, September 17, 2026 · head chef

Stephen Terry has been appointed head chef at Sant Ffraed House, a wedding venue in Abergavenny, returning to a professional kitchen three years after the closure of The Hardwick, which he ran with his wife Joanna for 18 years after taking on the former Horse and Jockey pub in Abergavenny in 2005.

It was named Gastropub of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards in 2010 and placed 20th in the Top 50 Gastropubs list in 2022, before closing in 2023.

Announcing the appointment, Sant Ffraed House said: "Michelin-starred chef Stephen Terry has joined Sant Ffraed House as our new head chef.

"It's incredibly rare to find a chef of Stephen's calibre leading the kitchen of a wedding venue. Michelin-starred pedigree, some of the most respected kitchens in British and European food and more than three decades at the very top of his game."

Stephen started out at Harveys under Marco Pierre White and went on to Le Gavroche with Michel Roux Jr, earning his first Michelin star at 25. He has cooked for world leaders at the NATO Summit and appeared on James Martin's Saturday Morning and Great British Menu.

The venue said his arrival brings new menus spanning traditional dining, feasting, street food and relaxed social styles.

Colin Nicholson to step down at Mingary Castle

Announced Wednesday, September 9, 2026 · departs Monday, November 2, 2026

Colin Nicholson is to step down as chef patron of Mingary Castle in Kilchoan after around six years, with Monday, November 2, 2026 his final day. He is also stepping back from the day to day running of the business, which is looking for new owners. No successor has been announced.

Colin said: "After six wonderful, unforgettable years, I have made the decision that 2nd of November will be my final day as Chef Patron of Mingary Castle, as I pass the baton to new owners and begin a new chapter.

"Mingary has been an incredible journey and saying goodbye will undoubtedly be difficult, but I'm also excited to see what the future holds for this very special place."

Colin also used the announcement to appeal for a buyer: "If you've ever dreamed of taking on an epic adventure and making Mingary your own, I would love to hear from you. Please do reach out as the Castle is looking for a new partner to take it forward."

Mingary Castle is a restaurant with rooms on the Ardnamurchan peninsula holding three AA Rosettes. It was named Scotland's best restaurant with rooms by the AA in 2024, AA Restaurant with Rooms of the Year for the UK, and won Best Restaurant Newcomer at the Scottish Excellence Awards.

Last week, in brief

Four moves led last week's update.

Ellie Shaw was appointed head chef at Sohaila in Shoreditch, succeeding Doug Rolle.

Francesco Dibenedetto rejoined Claude Bosi's restaurant group as culinary director, overseeing Brooklands by Claude Bosi and Josephine.

Brayden Davies was promoted to chef patron at The Box Tree in Ilkley and joined the restaurant's ownership as it reopened after refurbishment.

Peter Dantanus left his head chef role at Burnt Orange in Brighton after five years. And Stu Deeley left his executive chef role at The Warwick at Mallory Court. All four remain logged in full below.

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.

September 2026

• Charlie Tayler – The Poet, Farringdon: Left Aulis London in Soho after six years as head chef to become executive chef across the pub's four floors, alongside Honey Spencer, Charlie Sims and Spencer Large. (Read our interview with Charlie here)
• Mark Catchpole – Aulis London, Soho: Joined as head chef, succeeding Charlie Tayler, under Simon Rogan and global executive chef Oli Marlow, having spent three years at Roganic in Hong Kong. (Read more on this story here)
• Stephen Terry – Sant Ffraed House, Abergavenny: Returned to the kitchen as head chef, three years after the closure of The Hardwick, which he ran in Abergavenny for 18 years.
• Colin Nicholson – Mingary Castle, Kilchoan: Stepping down as chef patron after six seasons, with a final day of Monday, November 2, 2026, as the business seeks new owners; next move not yet announced.
• Francesco Dibenedetto - Claude Bosi restaurant group: Returned as culinary director, overseeing Brooklands by Claude Bosi and Josephine, having left Brooklands in November 2025. (Read more on this story here.)
• Brayden Davies - The Box Tree, Ilkley: Promoted from head chef to chef patron and joined the restaurant's ownership, as it reopens after refurbishment.
• Peter Dantanus - Burnt Orange, Brighton: Left his head chef role after five years; next move not yet announced.
• Stu Deeley - The Warwick at Mallory Court, Warwickshire: Left his executive chef role after just over a year; next move not yet announced. (Read more on this story here)
• Ellie Shaw - Sohaila, Shoreditch: Left her head chef role at The Clink in Brixton, where she worked for almost eight years, to become head chef, succeeding Doug Rolle.
• Doug Rolle - Fat Macy's: Left his head chef role at Sohaila, Shoreditch to move into a new role within the group's catering arm, as Ellie Shaw succeeds him.
• Pietro Massano - Kitchen Table, London: Promoted from senior sous chef to head chef, working alongside chef patron James Knappett.
• Micky Addy - The Rupert Brooke, Grantchester: Returned as head chef, having previously worked at Restaurant Alimentum, Cambridge and The Plough in Coton.
• Robbie Jameson - MAD Restaurant Group: Promoted from head chef at Alta to group executive chef, also now overseeing Moi and Room 86 in Soho. (Read more on this story)

August 2026

• Fergus Coyle - Outlaw House, Poole: Left his executive chef role with the Rick Stein Group to join Nathan Outlaw as executive chef.
• Ross Bott - Seton's at Meldrum House, Aberdeenshire: Left his head chef role at Monachyle Mhor, Perthshire to become executive chef.
• Byron Franklin - Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton, Fen Ditton: Left Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall, Norwich after its closure to become head chef, filling the gap left by Chris Lee.
• Chris Lee - The White Horse, Badwell Ash: Left his head chef role at Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton in Fen Ditton to become head chef and a partner at the Suffolk country pub near Bury St Edmunds.
• Ahmed Abdalla: Announced on Instagram that he is leaving his role as head chef of Legacy, the fine dining restaurant at The Grand in York. Next move not yet announced.

• Tyler King - Knockinaam Lodge, Portpatrick: Left Michelin-starred Condita in Edinburgh to become head chef at the five-star hotel on the Dumfries and Galloway coast, whose restaurant holds three AA rosettes.
• Simmie Vedi - Leafe, Bristol: Left her role as head of food at Chapter in Cardiff to become head of customer success and relationships at the compliance app, stepping out of kitchens altogether.
• David Kelman - Hyll, Charingworth: Left Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire to become executive chef at the North Cotswolds hotel, after more than two decades across country house kitchens including Ellenborough Park and Thyme.
• Mark Abbott - Margaret's, Cambridge: Left Aqua Shard in London after little over a year to become executive chef, returning to the city where he spent 14 years at Midsummer House. Co-founder Sam Carter and head chef Seb Mansfield remain.
• 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. (Read more on this story)

• 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.