Samira Effa announces departure from Grantley Hall

Former Great British Menu contestant Samira Effa has announced she is leaving Grantley hall after three years.

Starting her career in Yorkshire at Bradley’s Restaurant in Huddersfield, Samira has a wealth of experience at high-end Michelin-starred restaurants, having worked at Bohemia in Jersey, 21212 in Edinburgh and The Box Tree.

She was also head chef at Alimentum in Cambridge before it closed in 2018 a year after losing its star. 

Located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Grantley Hall is a five-star hotel and wellness retreat.

In June 2022, she took the helm at Bar & Restaurant EightyEight, a pan-asian restaurant at Grantley Hall, where she crafted dishes that blend Yorkshire produce with Far Eastern flavours.

Samira also gained national recognition through her appearances on BBC Two’s Great British Menu, representing the North East region in 2019, 2020, and 2024.

In December 2024, she co-founded The Epicurean Duo, an exclusive dining experience in collaboration with MasterChef star George Birtwell.

Now, she has announced her departure from Grantley Hall and shared an insight into her future plans. 

In a post on social media, it read: “After 3 and a half unforgettable years, my time at Grantley Hall has come to an end.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, the lessons I’ve learnt, and above all, the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. The friendships I’ve made here will stay with me for a lifetime, and I feel truly lucky for that.

“A heartfelt thank you to the amazing EightyEight team, old and new, you have been such a big part of my journey, and I’m so proud of what we achieved together. Thank you for helping me shape EightyEight into what it is today. I won’t tag you all, but you know who you are!

“Now, it’s time for a new chapter and one I couldn’t be more excited about. I’m proud to be focusing on my own business.

“This next step feels so right, finally taking a chance to do something for myself, built on passion, belief, and so much hard work.

“Thank you to everyone who has been part of my story so far. I can’t wait for this next adventure.”

Written by Abi Kinsella