Simpsons Restaurant | Matt Cheal

Matt Cheal, head chef at the Michelin-starred Simpsons in Birmingham, is leaving after 16 years to open a restaurant of his own called Cheal’s of Henley.

The 34-year-old chef and his father now possess what was previously Edmunds in Henley-in-Arden. The new venture will offer fine dining in a relaxed and informal setting after an extensive refurbishment. Matt said: “I’m extremely excited to be heading up my own restaurant and I feel that the time is right. I’ve spent an amazing 16 years at Simpsons, progressing up the ranks thanks to the guidance of Luke and Andreas. There’s no better training ground than Simpsons and I’ve loved my time there so it had to be the right place for me even to consider leaving. Henley-in-Arden has a lot to offer a chef and we have a lot to offer residents there too.” Matt will bring his own style to Cheal’s, concentrating on using seasonal ingredients and working with many of the suppliers he knows through his time at Simpsons. It’s always been Matt’s dream to open up a restaurant

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with his family, as most of them also work in the hospitality industry. After just one visit the Cheals fell in love with the building. The restaurant also has a solid culinary background having formerly held a Michelin star under Andy Waters, himself a former Simpsons chef, for four years.

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Luke Tipping, chef director and Matt’s mentor and friend for the past 16 years comments, “Matt joined Simpsons as a teenager - his first full time job. It’s been great to witness his development from young commis to head chef and it’s been a pleasure working with him. Cheal’s will be a fabulous addition to the burgeoning Midlands restaurant scene and I wish Matt and his family every success.” Whilst Matt is creating magic in the kitchen, Yannick Raymond, who spent three years working front of house at Simpsons, will take care of front of house as restaurant manager. Matt’s last day at Simpsons will be Sunday, August 9 and Cheal’s of Henley is planned to open mid to late September.

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