BiBi chef Chet Sharma takes on global Gymkhana role

Chet Sharma has been appointed global culinary director at two-Michelin-starred Gymkhana, while continuing in his role as founder and chef patron of BiBi.

The move marks a major development for JKS Restaurants, bringing Chet back into a wider group role after more than a decade working with the business.

Chet first joined JKS as group development chef, helping shape the culinary direction of several of its Indian brands, including Gymkhana, before opening BiBi with JKS in 2021.

Now in its fifth year, BiBi has become one of London’s most distinctive modern Indian restaurants, with Chet’s food drawing on ingredients, memories and regional influences from across the Indian subcontinent.

In his new role at Gymkhana, Chet will oversee Gymkhana London and support the brand’s global growth in identified regions of North America and the Middle East, while also working with its existing executive and head chef teams.

Chet Sharma to lead Gymkhana’s global culinary direction

The appointment comes shortly after the departure of Sid Ahuja, who left his role as chef director at Gymkhana earlier this year after almost a decade at the Mayfair restaurant.

Sid had played a central role in Gymkhana’s recent era, including its promotion to two Michelin stars in 2024, when it became the first Indian restaurant in London to hold that status.

Gymkhana first opened in 2013 and has become one of the UK’s most influential Indian fine dining restaurants, known for a menu rooted in regional Indian cooking, tandoor work, bold spicing and luxury ingredients.

Chet’s appointment signals continuity for the restaurant, but also a broader focus on how the Gymkhana brand develops internationally.

Speaking about the move, Chet said: “Returning to Gymkhana now feels like a homecoming of sorts.

“It’s a return to the place that - especially in the early days - educated my Indian palate more than anywhere else.

“As we step into this new chapter, I’m proud to be working alongside the talented and established teams across Gymkhana. I’m grateful for the support and trust placed in me by Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi to lead two such incredible restaurants.”