Tom Aikens, a one-time holder of two Michelin stars, will open Tom Aikens, the restaurant, after more than three years without his own kitchen. The opening sees the return of the chef who swiftly departed from his involvement with Pied à Terre in December 1999, following an incident involving a member of his brigade.
The 60-seat restaurant, on the site of the Marlborough Arms pub on Elystan Street in London's Chelsea, will open following a refurbishment by interior designer Anouska Hempel.
Front of house will come under the direction of Laura Aikens, Tom's wife, whose CV also includes a period at Pied à Terre, as well as at the Capital, also in London.
Aikens describes the opening of his eponymous restaurant as an opportunity to display his and his wife's talents, "taking the best of our experience and creating a gastronomic restaurant that people will enjoy. We are putting our own stamp on the site to ensure that Tom Aikens delivers remarkable and exciting food in the most inviting surroundings."
As head chef and co-proprietor of Pied à Terre, Aikens was Britain's youngest holder of two Michelin stars, at the age of 26. One month after he left it, the Charlotte Street restaurant was reduced to one star in the 2000 Michelin Guide.
During his career, Aikens has worked for Pierre Koffmann at La Tante Claire in London, Joel Robuchon, at his Paris restaurant, and Gerard Boyer at Les Crayeres in Reims. He says he has spent the past couple of years as "a chef in waiting", during which time he cooked privately for the likes of Lord Lloyd Webber and Sir Anthony and Lady Bamford.
Meals at his new child-friendly restaurant are expected to cost between £35 and £55, and the style of cooking will be modern French.
By Amanda Afiya
Source: Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, 13-19 February 2003