Celebrated ex-Greenhouse chef Bjorn van der Horst is joining the Gordon Ramsay stable with a new venture at the former Pengelley's site on Sloane Street, Caterer can exclusively reveal.

La Noisette, a new 65-seat, fine-dining restaurant serving French food, will open on 17 July in London's Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel. Van der Horst, who parted company with Marlon Abela's restaurant, the Greenhouse, in February just as it was tipped for a second Michelin star, will be chef-patron.

Chris Hutcheson, chief executive of Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH), said the new restaurant would have a similar set up to Angela Hartnett at the Connaught and Marcus Wareing at Pétrus. He said: "Bjorn will be chef-patron with the backing of GRH, which owns the lease on the site. Gordon Ramsay will not be involved other than being a director in the business.

"Bjorn is an exceptional chef and it's great news he's joined forces with the group. We have a huge amount of faith in him."

Hutcheson said further developments at the site would be announced at a later date.

Before joining the Greenhouse, van der Horst was head chef at Picholine in Manhattan, New York, before moving to open Marlon Abela's first US restaurant, Gaia.

Ian Pengelley's eponymous restaurant shut suddenly in December after GRH announced it was "no longer able to continue with its supporting role [in the business]".

 

By Jessica Gunn

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