When news dropped last week that Gary Jones would be leaving his role as executive chef of Belmond Le Manoir, we wondered who would be filling those rather large shoes. Now we have our answer - Luke Selby has been appointed as the new executive chef of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, starting on 2 January 2023.
This means that Selby will also be leaving Evelyn’s Table, the intimate counter dining restaurant that he took over with brothers Theo and Nat in 2020. The trio won a Michelin star in 2022, and the restaurant was voted third best in London in SquareMeal’s Top 100 London restaurants 2022.
This is a return to Belmond Le Manoir for all three of the Selby brothers. Luke started as a commis chef at Le Manoir in 2009 under the tutelage of Raymond Blanc and Gary Jones, and rose to become sous chef over the course of six years, before leaving to work at the likes of Dabbous, HIDE and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. He is also the only chef to have won all three of the Young National Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year and Roux Scholarship competitions.
Brothers Theo and Nat joined Luke at Le Manoir later, and embarked on their own journeys before the trio reunited at HIDE alongside Ollie Dabbous - another Le Manoir alumnus. Since then they’ve become hot property in the industry, winning Michelin stars at HIDE and at Evelyn’s Table, and also scooping a special award from Michelin in 2022 as the guide’s Young Chefs of the Year. Evelyn's Table has already announced a replacement head chef in the form of James Goodyear, who leaves his post as head chef of Simpson's in Birmingham to take on the role.
Luke Selby said: ‘The past three years have been incredible and we have been lucky enough to achieve some amazing milestones in our humble space.
‘Le Manoir is such a special place to me for many reasons and this feels like a true homecoming. I am honoured to be taking up the helm here alongside Raymond and am very excited about continuing and building upon the legacy of this incredible establishment with my brothers Nathaniel and Theodore by my side.
‘Together, we will continue to give our guests the most exceptional cuisine rooted in the best seasonal produce. We will go on to build and even strengthen the most creative environment for our team to develop and flourish.’
Raymond Blanc will continue his role as chef patron of Belmond Le Manoir, whilst Benoit Blin remains the hotel’s chef patissier. Speaking to The Caterer, Blanc said: ‘I regard [Luke] as one of the most talented and creative chefs in the UK, complemented by natural abilities of leadership, a warm personality and a deep understanding of our values.’
'We don't treat each other like brothers.' Read our interview with Luke, Theo and Nat Selby as we chat to the trio after a hugely successful year at Evelyn's Table.
Photography credit: Jodi Hinds