‘20 years in the making’ – Chris McClurg to open his first restaurant
Chris McClurg and Alice Stewart will open their first independent restaurant this July, taking over Regency House in Belfast.
Set within one of the city’s most striking historic buildings, the new restaurant will also be called Regency House and will become the centrepiece of the five-star property.
The move marks a major new chapter for Chris, who spent 13 years working alongside Paul Ainsworth, ultimately becoming chef patron of Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No6 in Padstow.
Chris also previously competed on Great British Menu, making it through to finals week in 2019, before returning in 2022 and winning the banquet dessert course.
He and Alice will formally take over the entire Regency House site on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, before opening the restaurant to the public in July.
The property, which has eight rooms and six suites, was awarded a Michelin Key in 2025, making it Northern Ireland’s first hotel to receive the accolade.
A major Belfast opening
Regency House first opened in 2022 following Aurient Limited’s redevelopment of Belfast’s historic crescent in the Queen’s Quarter.
However, the building has never previously housed a public-facing restaurant.
Chris and Alice began consulting on the property in 2025 and will now take over the full site, with ambitions to create a restaurant of national significance in Chris’s home city.
The restaurant will have 40 covers, including an intimate courtyard dining space and a private dining cellar.
The interiors will combine the building’s original architecture with a more contemporary sense of warmth, craft and theatre, with the open kitchen forming a key part of the experience.
Chris McClurg on Regency House
Speaking about the opening, Chris said: “On a personal level, this announcement has been 20 years in the making.
“Dining at Regency House promises to be exciting, energetic and guided by the incredible larder of local produce we have on this beautiful Island: think of an intimate Parisian luxe bistro with a distinctly Northern Irish accent.
“We have spent a huge part of this past year out on the road meeting and building relationships with our fantastic farmers, growers, fishermen and craftspeople.
“We feel a huge sense of pride and responsibility to showcase their efforts in the best way we know!”
Chris and Alice return to Belfast
County Down-born Chris has worked in high-profile fine dining kitchens and butcheries since the age of 17, with experience in Belfast, London, Brussels and Cornwall.
At Paul Ainsworth at No6, he progressed from chef de partie to sous chef, head chef and eventually chef patron, playing a key role in the restaurant’s Michelin-starred success.
Alice also built her career at No6, joining the restaurant in 2019 after graduating with distinction in patisserie from Ashburton Chefs Academy.
She progressed from chef de partie to head of pastry and sous chef, before becoming restaurant director in 2022.
Together, Chris and Alice returned to Belfast in 2025 with the ambition of creating a restaurant capable of competing on a national stage.
For 18 years, The Staff Canteen has been the meeting place for chefs and hospitality professionals—your stories, your skills, your space.
Every recipe, every video, every news update exists because this community makes it possible.
We’ll never hide content behind a paywall, but we need your help to keep it free.
If The Staff Canteen has inspired you, informed you, or simply made you smile, chip in £3—less than a coffee—to keep this space thriving.
Together, we keep the industry connected. Together, we move forward.
Support Us
CONTRIBUTE
‘20 years in the making’ – Chris McClurg to open his first restaurant
