Trivia

Two sons, Samuel (born 1988) and George (born 1990) with wife Jenny, who is also a trained chef. They met at catering college and lived in Orpington, Kent. Has written several cookery books.

He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to business and the culinary arts.

He grew up in Kent and attended Thanet Technical College. His first professional job was at the Amsterdam Hilton, where he experimented with nouvelle cuisine. He opened his first restaurant in 1997.

His trademark spiky hair was the result of skull surgery to remove a blood clot following a road accident in Amsterdam when he was hit by a van while running to catch a tram. Because his hair would not lie down around the scar in his scalp, he was advised to cultivate a spiky-haired look.