Luke Ahearne announces departure from Michelin-starred restaurant

Luke Ahearne has announced he is leaving Lita, just months after it gained a Michelin star.

He has been running the kitchen at Lita in Marylebone since it opened in early 2024.

Luke’s food reflects a precise yet soulful style - one built on fire, flavour, and finesse. At Lita, he’s carved out a new space for rustic elegance: an approach that lets seasonal ingredients shine without overcomplication, rooted in tradition but executed with modern refinement.

After leading the kitchen since early 2024 and guiding Lita to success - including securing a Michelin star - he has now moved on to new opportunities.

A post on social media read: "My time at Lita has come to an end. What a whirlwind it has been, opening a restaurant and being a part of a project this scale was something completely new to me but one I knew I needed to do.

"Being able to put my stamp on a restaurant and in the food is what any chef can dream of. I was lucky enough to have gotten the chance

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to do so. None of this would have been possible without my team, who have believed in what we wanted to create, both front and back of house, past and present. They have been part of this journey too, and I am incredibly grateful to them. Our suppliers, old and new, it is your product that made our job easier. Without all of you striving for the best all the time, we as chefs cannot do the same. Of course, the guests, some old, many new, all of whom without you there would be no restaurant. I have absolutely loved meeting all of you and welcoming you in. It has been an honour and privilege for us to cook for you all.

"Lastly, Michelin Guide thank you for recognising my cooking in such a short space of time. Winning a Michelin star was a lifelong dream for me, one of the proudest moments of my life and one I wish to win again in my next venture. I wish Lita all the best for the future and continued success.
The future is bright and very exciting, and I look forward to what’s ahead."

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