About Us. Our Patrons.

Jason was an Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Maze up until 2010. His flagship restaurant ‘Pollen Street Social’ opened in April 2011 in Mayfair and was awarded a coveted Michelin star within just six months. Jason now owns numerous successful restaurants across London including ‘Social Eating House’ and ‘Pollen Street Social’ as well as restaurants across the globe including Dubai, Greece and Shanghai.

Raymond opened his first restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in 1977 in Oxford and went on to win two Michelin stars. He opened The Raymond Blanc Cookery School in 1991, encouraging both amateurs and professionals to train with him and learn his secrets. In 2009 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Catey Awards, the culinary world’s equivalent to The Oscars. BBC 2 and is the author of three best-selling cookbooks.

Heston’s restaurant, The Fat Duck, was awarded three Michelin stars and was voted ‘Best Restaurant in the World’ in 2005. Having been a Patron of Hospitality Action since 2004, Heston became the charity’s Principal Patron for 7 years following his dedicated support of the charity and the Ark Foundation.

Michael is chef/patron of Lympstone Manor and is one of Britain’s most popular and well-known chefs. The holder of two Michelin stars for 18 consecutive years, he was awarded a Michelin star for Lympstone Manor just six months after opening. Michael has appeared regularly on television on programmes such as “Saturday Kitchen”, “Sunday Brunch” and “The Great British Menu” and amongst numerous accolades, he as cooked in 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, received an MBE for services to the hospitality industry, and was awarded AA Chef’s Chef of the Year in 2007.

Jeremy has managed and opened luxury hotels around the world, with Four Seasons, Rosewood and Belmond.

He is co-founder of HotelSchool a joint venture with London’s largest homeless resource centre, The Passage. HotelSchool teaches homeless and vulnerable people hospitality skills, and carefully mentors graduates into full time careers in the industry.

Angela’s career in hospitality started in the kitchens at Aubergine, Zafferano, L’Oranger and Petrus, where she became head chef within seven short months, helping the restaurant to achieve a Michelin Star. She was awarded an MBE in 2007.

As a Chef-Proprietor Angela has built a hugely successful business. Murano has won accolades including a Michelin Star and 4 AA Rosettes; whilst she also runs 3 bustling Cafe Murano sites and a deli, Pastificio. Her other successful venture, Hartnett Holder & Co, developed in partnership with Robin Hutson, and with Chef Luke Holder continues to go from strength to strength.

Nigel was  born in Whalley, Lancashire, where his food roots remain to this today. From his initial training in Lancashire, he embarked on a culinary journey covering London, Scotland and Switzerland, before returning home to take over as Head Chef at Northcote Manor in 1984. By 1995, Nigel was celebrating the Egon Ronay Chef Of The Year award. Just a year later, he gained his first Michelin star.
For more than three decades, Nigel was the driving culinary force behind Northcote. In that time, he (with co-founder Craig Bancroft) transformed its unique location in the small village of Langho, Lancashire, into a place of gastronomic pilgrimage. Today, Nigel is still writing new chapters in his incredible story, with the opening of his brand new pub and restaurant The Three Fishes in Mitton.

Paul spent 12 years under the guidance of Raymond Blanc at his restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Since then he has been awarded two Michelin stars for his restaurant in Preston and in 1997 he opened the Paul Heathcote School of Excellence in Manchester.

Tom opened The Hand and Flowers in 2005, a proper pub with proper food, which was the first pub to be awarded two Michelin stars. In 2014 Tom opened The Coach, 200 meters down the road from The Hand and Flowers. A fantastic sister restaurant built with the same ethos and drive for British produce, food and drink. Tom has also hosted numerous TV shows including “Tom Kerridge’s Proper Pub Food” on BBC 2 and is the author of three best-selling cookbooks.

Atul Kochhar’s inimitable talent as a twice-Michelin-starred chef has changed the way people perceive and experience Indian food. He has been at the forefront of the Indian culinary industry for over 25 years and is recognised on an international scale. Atul was also the first Indian Chef to be awarded a Michelin star.

Donald co-founded the Macdonald hotel chain in 1990. Since then they have opened 75 hotels and resorts across the UK, as well as a further four timeshare resorts in Spain.

Sinead Mallozzi completed a degree in hospitality management. Following this, she won a place on a fast-track graduate trainee program with Swallow Hotels. Seven years later, she became the youngest and ( only female at the time ) London Hotel general manager. Sinead has also worked at Somerset House with Oliver Peyton where she became very involved in public events and the arts. This led to her to discovering sketch and embracing the idea of combining food, drink, art, and music under one roof. Twenty years later, she continues to be at the helm of sketch and is credited with evolving the business into a London institution and International destination restaurant.

Anton was Maître Chef des Cuisines at The Dorchester for thirteen years, after which he opened a cookery school and a private dining club in Belgravia. He was asked to cook for the 300 wedding guests at the evening reception of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.

Harry was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 for his service to the hotel industry. With more than 40 years in the hotel industry, Harry has marked his career with outstanding service and training. He is a past Chairman of the Master Innholders and was awarded Hotelier of the Year in 1986. After nearly 25 years as MD and then Chairman of Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa Harry has recently retired from this role and acts as a mentor to future generations of hoteliers.

Chantelle Nicholson is a multi-award winning chef, restaurateur and author. She is the founder of Apricity restaurant, in Mayfair, which celebrates conscious cooking and joyful dining. Chantelle is the former chef-owner of now-closed Covent Garden restaurant, Tredwells (the recipient of a green Michelin star in 2021), and All’s Well, a ‘pandemic pop-up’. Chantelle is an advocate for seasonality and sustainability, championing veg-forward cooking through both her restaurants and her cookbook, Planted.

Jamie found fame in 1997 via The Naked Chef television series. Since then Jamie has featured in various television series and opened numerous restaurants. He has also campaigned for healthier school meals and healthier living both in the UK and the US.

Craig is a hospitalitarian through and through. Having begun his career working at iconic London venues – including The London Eye and Roundhouse – he’s always had a special knack for creating great experiences and building long-lasting relationships. It was his passion for people that led him to recruitment in 2012. After many years recruiting for high-profile hospitality clients across the industry, he joined Ennismore to consult on leadership recruitment and new opening projects for The Hoxton and Working From_.
In 2019, after some challenging personal experiences, Craig reassessed how he wanted to live and work. Believing people deserve to be looked after properly, Craig channelled his energy into creating mum. His vision? To make hospitality and recruitment better places to be.
Craig’s personal journey has inspired him to become involved in causes championing people – especially those promoting better mental health and wellbeing. In 2020, he created and launched Walk for Wellbeing in support of Hospitality Action.

Alain Roux, son of the late Michel Roux OBE, continues and elevates the illustrious Roux cooking dynasty.  After an apprenticeship in pastry, Alain spent seven years working hard in some of France’s most notable kitchens, including La Côte Saint-Jacques in Joigny and Restaurant Pic in Valence. Joining his father’s legendary Thameside restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, The Waterside Inn in 1992, Alain worked through the ranks before becoming joint chef patron with his father in 2000.  A couple of years later, Alain took over and leads the team today.  Since 2000, Alain has been a Master Pâtissier in the International Association Relais Desserts, ranking him one of only 100 listed best pastry chefs in the world.

Alain is a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Britain's leading professional association of Head Chefs, Pastry Chefs, Restaurant Managers and suppliers.

Legendary chef Michel Roux Jr was raised in Shipbourne, Kent where his father Albert Roux OBE worked as a private chef for the Cazalet family. His earliest food memories are the smells of the Fairlawne kitchen – pastry, sugar caramelizing and stews – where he played under the table while his father and mother Monique prepared the meals.

With a global reputation as one of the masters of Indian fine dining, Vivek Singh’s signature culinary style marries modern Indian flavours with Western techniques. Executive Chef & CEO of five restaurants (The Cinnamon Club in Westminster and Dubai, Cinnamon Kitchen in Battersea and the City, and Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden), author of six cookbooks and a regular face on both television and live cookery events across the country, Vivek Singh is one of the most inspiring Indian chefs of his generation.

Viscount Thurso spent many years working in the hospitality industry. He managed the Lancaster in Paris before founding the hotel at Cliveden and before his election to Parliament in 2001 he was the CEO of the Champneys group.

Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala have been staunch supporters of Hospitality Action for well over a decade. Cyrus has an encyclopaedic knowledge of food history and cuisine and, alongside Pervin, they have taken the helm at multiple award-winning restaurants, most notably Café Spice Namasté, which is a 25-year-old institution and the longest-running Michelin BIB Gourmand restaurant (‘good food, good value’).

Together they founded Zest Quest Asia to help develop and curate skills in classic Asian cuisine. Amongst their many accolades, Pervin has been named a Women 1st ‘100 Most Influential Women’ in UK hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, and Cyrus has an MBE for his services to education and training and an OBE for services to the catering and hospitality industry.

Brian trained in England before spending time in Europe. When he returned to the UK he worked at Claridge’s, before moving on to the Capital Hotel. He has been an Executive Chef at various establishments and has made numerous television appearances on shows such as Ready Steady Cook.

Phil is passionate about many things, his family and rugby are unquestionably top of the list, but food, farming, eating well and inspiring healthy lifestyle choices, especially amongst the young, are also very close to Phil’s heart. Phil has been an active supporter of Hospitality Action and he has taken part in the charity’s annual Le Tour de Cuisine, Cotswold Cycle Challenge and Rugby Legends fundraising dinner. aAs Non-Executive Director at Creed Foodservice, Phil has a unique understanding of the varying needs of the industry and is well placed to help the charity reach its fundraising goals across 2019 and beyond.

Robert is the President of The Restaurant Association which provides professional guidance to members and represents their views to Government. Robert is also proprietor of Trunkwell Mansion House in Reading, Chairman of the Nth Degree Club.