Tributes paid following death of chef Dom Taylor
Chef Dom Taylor, the founder of Caribbean restaurant The Good Front Room, has died.
News of his death was announced on Monday, July 13, with a social media tribute shared by Lorraine Copes, founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality.
At the time of writing, no further details surrounding Dom’s death have been announced.
Dom was known for championing the food of his Jamaican and Saint Lucian heritage and challenging perceptions of how Caribbean cooking could be represented within UK restaurants.
Tributes paid to Dom Taylor
Chefs and hospitality figures shared their shock and sadness following the announcement.
Ayesha Kalaji, chef patron of Queen of Cups, said: “How tragic! We spoke at a Be Inclusive panel together a few years ago and I'll never forget how warm and kind he was.”
Maria Bradford, founder of Shwen Shwen, commented: “What!!! This is incredibly sad. Oh my God.”
Chef, broadcaster and restaurateur Andi Oliver added: “I am so sad to hear this horrible news. Such a lovely man x.”
Lorraine described Dom as a warm, kind, funny and stylish person, as well as an “incredibly talented chef” who celebrated his Jamaican and Saint Lucian culture through his cooking.
She said the hospitality industry had lost “someone truly special”.
Dom Taylor and The Good Front Room
Dom became widely known after winning Channel 4 competition Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef in 2023.
The programme, hosted by Michel Roux Jr, gave Dom the opportunity to open The Good Front Room at The Langham hotel in London.
Originally intended to operate as a six-month residency, the restaurant’s run was extended following strong demand and eventually concluded in April 2024.
The concept combined the warmth, generosity and familiarity of Caribbean home cooking with a contemporary restaurant experience.
Dom later opened the more casual Marvee’s Food Shop in Ladbroke Grove, named in tribute to his mother, Marveline, before returning to The Good Front Room concept.
A permanent version of the restaurant opened beside Dalston Junction station in February 2026.
Speaking ahead of the opening, Dom said: “The Good Front Room is inspired by my great-aunt Myrtle and the sacred front rooms found in so many Caribbean homes, spaces kept for special guests and layered with pride and memory.
“As a grandchild of the Windrush generation, I feel a responsibility to carry the torch and keep our stories, recipes and traditions alive.”
‘Food was how we expressed love’
The Staff Canteen previously interviewed Dom about his upbringing, his career and his ambition to broaden the way Caribbean food was understood in the UK.
Born in south-east London to a Jamaican mother and Saint Lucian father, Dom was one of five children and began cooking for his family from a young age.
He told The Staff Canteen: “My mum’s Jamaican and my dad’s St Lucian, and food was everything in our family. It was how we expressed love, how we connected.
“I remember watching my mother, my grandmother, my aunties in the kitchen – cleaning meat and fish, seasoning it, marinating, preparing everything by hand. There was so much care and ceremony in it.
“It wasn’t just about eating – it was about showing care. That energy, that closeness, that ritual… I wanted to hold on to it.”
Dom said one of the proudest achievements of his career was bringing Caribbean food into The Langham and seeing the restaurant consistently sell out.
He added: “It was a huge moment – not just for me personally, but for Caribbean food.”
Dom leaves a legacy as a chef who cooked with pride, personality and a determination to give Caribbean food the platform and recognition he believed it deserved.
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Tributes paid following death of chef Dom Taylor
