Steve Drake will cease to be chef proprietor of Drake's restaurant at the end of the month

As a result of Steve and Serina Drake's divorce, Steve Drake will cease to be the chef proprietor of Drake's restaurant at the end of August 2016, when a new head chef will be appointed.

Serina Drake will remain in ownership of Drake's, and Steve Drake will leave to pursue other ventures, including continuing with his involvement in The Anchor pub restaurant.

For both restaurants, however, it will continue to be ‘business as usual'.

Speaking to The Staff Canteen, Steve said: "It’s all fine at Drake’s. It was my decision to leave as it was the most logical way of us separating.

Drake’s has been incredible for me for the last 14 years. It’s all fine and it’s been a long time in planning so we’ve all had time to get used to it. Obviously I am looking at other opportunities, I want to see what else there is out there because I have never been in this position before. I obviously want to continue cooking my food and continue developing my food and I’m still very, very ambitious. This certainly isn’t the end. It was great whilst it lasted at Drake’s but at the end of the day all good things come to

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an end but I’m very positive about the future.”

Since announing his departure from Drake's, Steve has set up a holding page for his new venture due to open early 2017. The holding page, www.stevedrakefood.com encourages people to sign up to be the first to hear about Steve's new plans.

Steve, a Roux Scholarship winner in 2001, began his career under Keith Stanley at the Ritz Hotel London, his career progressed under Tom Aikens , Nico Ladenis, Marco Pierre White and William Drabble.

Steve was awarded his first Michelin star in 2002 at Drakes on the Pond, Surrey. After four years Steven and his wife, Serina, fulfilled their lifelong ambition and opened their own restaurant, Drakes in Ripley, which in 2004 gained both a star, and 3-AA rosettes in the first year and was voted Newcomer of the year in the Good Food Guide.

In December 2013 Serina and Steve took the opportunity to purchase their local, The Anchor in Ripley, installing Michael Wall-Palmer as head chef (formerly Drake's), serving simple flavour focused food and some of Steve's past signature dishes.

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