Chef Sally Abé has announced the appointment of Jennifer Collins as Head Chef at The Pem, her signature restaurant at Conrad London St. James in the heart of Westminster. Jennifer joins from Kol restaurant in Marylebone, where she served as Senior Sous Chef, gaining valuable experience in British produce and culinary techniques.
The fine dining restaurant offers menus that showcase the foundations of historic British cuisine, celebrating flavours and ingredients that are much-loved while using innovative techniques to give them a modern twist. Jennifer’s experience working with wild food and seasonal produce makes her a perfect fit to take on The Pem’s elegant, British menus, and her ethos is perfectly in line with Sally’s commitment to making hospitality a more attractive career for women.
Jennifer brings a wealth of experience, having overseen a team of 21 chefs during her tenure at Kol. Prior to this, she served as Senior Chef de Partie at Luca, and previously worked at restaurants including City Social and Hotel Café Royal in London, and Chez Vous Restaurant in Surrey. She also holds a Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Diploma in Professional Cookery.
“This opportunity is not just a career milestone for me, but a chance to craft culinary experiences that resonate with passion, creativity, and a dedication to delighting our guests. I was drawn to The Pem because of its values and feminist ethos and look forward to leading an amazing team and bringing a new chapter of culinary excellence to The Pem.” – Chef Jennifer Collins
“The team and I are so excited to welcome Jennifer into the kitchen. She brings a wealth of experience and I have no doubt that her unique blend of skills and expertise will flourish in The Pem's kitchen. She has a great attitude and focus that will be invaluable for the next stage of our wonderful restaurant as we launch into the new year.” – Chef Sally Abé
The Pem has recently reopened following an extensive kitchen refurbishment. The restaurant is set within the iconic Westminster hotel, Conrad London St. James, with a spectacular and spacious main dining room seating 70, as well as The Harben, a private dining room which seats 22 guests for a more private celebration. Having opened in July 2021, The Pem has built a strong reputation for its exceptional dishes and has become one of the premier dining destinations in Westminster. Within its first year of opening, The Pem was identified as ‘One to Watch’ and the restaurant was included in this year’s National Restaurant Awards Top 100.
