The Wolseley Hospitality Group
The Wolseley Hospitality Group has appointed new head chefs at three of its London restaurants, with two existing chefs moving within the group. Frank Fletcher, formerly of Quo Vadis, joins Fischer’s in Marylebone as head chef, replacing Jenson Santos, previously of Wright Brothers Seafood Restaurant and German Gymnasium, who moves to lead the kitchen at The Wolseley City. Jai Shaikh, formerly of The Ivy Collection, completes the changes, moving from The Wolseley City to Colbert in Chelsea.
TOZI Restaurant and Bar
TOZI Restaurant and Bar has appointed Francesco Vacca as head chef, following more than nine years with the restaurant. Vacca will continue to work closely with TOZI’s long-standing executive chef Maurilio Molteni, who remains at the helm of the restaurant’s culinary direction after more than a decade. Vacca joined the Italian restaurant in Victoria in 2017 and has risen through the ranks of the kitchen. In his new role as head chef, he will oversee the day-to-day running of the kitchen while working alongside Molteni.
The Quality Chop House
Nathan Chapman now leads the kitchen at The Quality Chop House. Chapman, who has been part of the Clerkenwell restaurant for seven years and helped shape its food for much of that time, will now continue his work as head chef.
The Barbary
The Barbary Notting Hill has announced the appointment George Ormond as its new executive chef. Ormond was previously head chef at Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Murano and was most recently head chef at Marylebone restaurant Lita, At The Barbary Notting Hill, Ormond is integrating his French, Spanish, and Italian classical training with the spices and traditions of the Barbary Coast.
Chickpea Group
Pub and restaurant business Chickpea Group has appointed Gavin George as its chair. George co-founded and led Laine Pub Company, with locations in Brighton and London, and brings more than 28 years of leadership experience in the hospitality sector to his work with Chickpea Group. At Chickpea Group, he will work closely with the board to advise on and support the delivery of the company’s next period of growth.
Brindisa Tapas
Former Barrafina chef director Angel Zapata Martin has been appointed chef director at Brindisa Tapas. Zapata Martin will play a key role at Spanish food and restaurant business across its food, kitchens and sites, strengthening the connection between its network of Spanish producers and its kitchens. His appointment follows Kelly Richardson’s appointment as managing director at Brindisa and Adrian Castro appointed as beverage director.
Jersey Mike’s
Jersey Mike’s franchise operator JM Submarines UK has appointed Satnam Leihal as chief executive as the US sandwich brand prepares to launch in the UK and Ireland. Leihal, who most recently led Boparan Restaurant Group, will be responsible for leading the business across the two markets, overseeing the development of local operations, the franchise platform and the restaurant estate as Jersey Mike’s establishes its presence. The appointment comes ahead of the opening of the brand’s first UK restaurant in Argyll Street, near Oxford Street, in November with more sites in the pipeline.
Trindle Stores
Teal by Sally Abé head chef Abbie Hendren is making the move to Kew-based Trindle Stores to head up its restaurant. Hendren’s career includes time at London restaurants La Trompette, The Glasshouse and Sam’s Waterside.
Updown Farmhouse
Josh Hughes, formerly head chef at Hide and Fox in Hythe, has joined Updown Farmhouse as its new executive chef. A Kent native with 15 years in kitchens across the county, Hughes led The Bridge Arms near Canterbury to its Michelin star in 2022, before running the pass at Hide and Fox, where he led the kitchen to its second Michelin star in 2025. He also earned aspot in the national final of last year’s Great British Menu. At Updown, Hughes will work closely with chef proprietor Oli Brown and head chef Jake Norman, leading the kitchen team and championing Updown’s Italian-leaning, hyper-seasonal menu.
WatchHouse
WatchHouse has appointed former Tortilla CEO Andy Naylor as CFO. Further bolstering the premium coffee house chain’s senior leadership team, his arrival closely follows the recent appointment of Ainslee Garnham to ops director. Naylor brings decades of multi-site hospitality experience to WatchHouse. He joined in July 2017 and he held a number of leadership positions across eight years of service, beginning with CFO and later progressing to UK MD and then CEO, which he held until departing the group in February this year. Prior to that he was group head of finance at steakhouse group Gaucho
San Carlo
San Carlo has appointed Lisa Buckley as managing director as the family-owned Italian restaurant group looks to strengthen its UK operations and expand its international presence. Buckley was most recently at BrewDog, where she served as global chief retail officer. Prior to that, she was chief executive of Leisure TV Rights, operator of the Ninja Warrior UK adventure park business. She also spent almost five years at Wagamama, rising to UK operations director, before taking the managing director role at Côte Brasserie.
Creative Restaurant Group
Alix Pickard has joined Creative Restaurant Group as marketing director. Pickard was most recently group marketing director at MJMK Restaurants and her previous roles include chief marketing officer roles at Caprice Holdings and Bagatelle Group. Creative Restaurant Group’s brands include IGNI, Sumi, Kioku by Endo and the newly-opened ENDO in Chelsea.
Brava Hospitality Group
Brava Hospitality Group has appointed Ian Tillet as head of operations, leading across its Jamie’s Italian UK, Riding House Cafés and Maslow’s Restaurants brands. Tillet joins from Côte where he held the same role across that group’s estate in central London and Kent. His CV also includes a lengthy 15-year stint at Mitchells & Butlers where his roles included internal communications manager and head of people of its City division; and three and a half years at Greene King, working primarily as business development manager across brands including Urban Pubs and Metropolitan Pub Company. In his new position, Tillet will work alongside Brava’s group operations director, Adam Lindop