'It is time to hang up my chef knives and say farewell'

Steve Munkley has announced he will leave the Royal Garden Hotel on December 11 and he will ‘be taking some time in the new year to reflect and work on Craft Guild projects and the salon at The Hotel, Restaurant and Catering show [formally Hotelympia] which will be going virtual in 2021’.

He steps down as executive chef after 25 years in the role as the owners of the Hotel have decided to embark on a refurbishment program throughout 2021 and will look to reopen in 2022, therefor the majority of the employees of the hotel are being made redundant.

He said: “It is time to hang up my chef knives and say farewell. I have worked with some marvellous people and have been supported by some outstanding suppliers.”

Previously Steve was executive head chef at the London Kensington Hilton for five years, he is vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs and alongside David Mulcahy, he runs the annual Craft Guild of Chefs Awards, NCOTY, LACA Finishing Touches, Tilda Young Chef of the Year and FutureChef. But ultimately, The Graduate Awards ‘is his baby’.