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and sustainability committee. He has played a significant role in the progression and development of two culinary competitions: Young Chef Young Waiter and National Chef of the Year. The Royal Academy of Culinary


Arts is now accepting entries for AAE 2024. Applicants must be working full-time in the UK as a chef, pastry chef or waiter and should be under the age of 26 at the close of entries on 31 January 2024.


MOOR HALL TO OPEN £1,100 A NIGHT GARDEN ROOMS


Adam Thomason


culinary director at Absolute Taste. Matt Thomas, managing director


of Restaurant Associates, said: “We have kept in touch with Adam over the years and I can’t think of a better person to drive forward our food and people-first strategy." Thomason is a Master of Culinary


Seven standalone garden rooms are to launch at chef Mark Birchall's two-Michelin-starred Moor Hall restaurant with rooms in Lancashire in spring 2024. The rooms will be priced from £1,100 a night for dinner and bed and breakfast for two, and feature a hot tub and private decking area. Birchall has worked with design


studio KOTO to name each of the rooms after botanicals found in the kitchen garden, such as oxalis, anise hyssop and sea buckthorn. Moor Hall currently has seven


years to pursue solo projects. The chef oversaw the launch of


Bubala’s first site in Spitalfields in 2019 and the opening of a second site in Soho in 2022. It received rave reviews for its


Middle Eastern vegetarian cooking from The Observer’s Jay Rayner and the Evening Standard’s Jimi Famurewa, who said it made vegetarianism seem like the “sanest thing in the world”. Writing on Instagram, Graham


said: “After five incredible years at @bubala_london and approx 300 tonnes of hummus, I’ve made the tough decision to step away and pursue some exciting solo projects. “Thank you to the teams,


suppliers, and of course, the guests that have been part of my journey at Bubala, you made this all possible. Live, Laugh, Labneh.”


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RACA NAMES PHIL HOWARD AS HONORARY PRESIDENT


overnight bedrooms, five of which are in the main house, while the remainder are located in the gatehouse. The new rooms will be tucked away in the secluded woodland that surrounds the gardens. Birchall said: “Moor Hall is


constantly evolving. Innovation, sustainability and an outstanding guest experience are at the heart of everything we do, and I am so excited for this next stage in our journey.”


Phil Howard


Phil Howard has been named as the next honorary president of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Annual Awards of Excellence (AAE). The chef patron of London’s Michelin-starred Elystan Street and pasta restaurant group Notto is an active member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and sits on both the management committee


ADAM THOMASON RETURNS TO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES Compass Group UK & Ireland has appointed Adam Thomason as culinary director of Restaurant Associates. Thomason previously worked


across Restaurant Associates and the wider Compass Group for a number of years before leaving in 2021. His CV includes roles as executive chef at Genuine Dining Co and


Arts and was named Chef of the Year (Private Site) at the 2018 Foodservice Cateys. He is also captain of the England Culinary Team. Thomason said: “It'’s a privilege to be heading up such a talented culinary team. I have so many ideas and plans that will see great food, as well as our people at the centre of our offer.”


JOHAN SCHEEPERS JOINS GRAND HOTEL BIRMINGHAM


Johan Scheepers


Johan Scheepers has been appointed general manager of the Grand Hotel Birmingham. He has previously worked as


general manager of Intercontinental Hotel Group’s Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh and general manager of the Kimpton Clocktower in Manchester. Scheepers joins the Grand Hotel Birmingham following its £45m restoration. James Burrell, the Grand Hotel’s


group chief executive, said: “Johan’s wealth of luxury experience, proven success leading high-performing teams and ambitious vision make him perfectly placed to guide the hotel’s future growth.” The Grand Hotel Birmingham


first opened in 1879 and closed in 2002. The Grade II*-listed building reopened in November 2021 as a 185-bedroom property complete with 10 event spaces, a destination restaurant and bar.


10 November 2023 | The Caterer | 9


PHOTO: LUCY J TOMS PHOTOGRAPHY


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