Sukumaran will oversee the culinary direction across the 309-room Lancaster Gate hotel’s two food and beverage concepts, developing menus focused on seasonal British produce, modern techniques and global influences.
Seekers Restaurant & Bar will be a 138-seat contemporary British restaurant overlooking Hyde Park, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea within an ‘eclectic, design-led setting’.
The restaurant will also feature a speakeasy-inspired bar focused on inventive cocktails.
HydeOut, meanwhile, will be an 88-seat all-day café lounge and co-working space.
Dishes across the two concepts will include Angus Scottish beef tataki with spring onion, garlic and ponzu at HydeOut; and steamed Dover sole with green grapes, San Marzano tomatoes, sourdough croutons and shiso at Seekers.
Sukumaran joins Hyde & Seek following four years at The Londoner, where he progressed to executive head chef.
He has previously held senior roles at a number of other high-profile London hotels, including Corinthia London, Royal Garden Hotel and Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
Commenting on his appointment, Sukumaran says: “Hyde & Seek captured my imagination from the very beginning, not only because of its remarkable location overlooking Hyde Park, but because of the rare opportunity to help shape a completely new dining destination from day one.
“My vision is to create food that reflects both the heritage of British cuisine and the vibrant multicultural influences that define Bayswater today, using the best seasonal ingredients to deliver dishes that feel familiar, but with a contemporary Hyde & Seek twist.
“For me, opening a brand-new kitchen is the beginning of a journey, and I’m incredibly excited to work alongside such a talented team to create a restaurant and café that become part of the fabric of the local community as well as a destination for visitors to London.”
Formerly Corus Hotel Hyde Park, Hyde & Seek, London Hyde Park has received a £42m investment and is now part of Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio.