Chris Corbin and Jeremy King choose Mazzei as chef for St Alban

Francesco Mazzei has been named as the head chef of Chris Corbin and Jeremy King's new restaurant, St Alban, Caterer can reveal.

The Italian was previously head chef at Franco's on London's Jermyn Street, which reopened following a refurbishment in September 2005.

Before this he worked with restaurateur Alan Yau as head chef of the short-lived Anda on Baker Street and as a consultant on Michelin-starred restaurant Hakkasan.

Mazzei told Caterer that his menu at St Alban would include Mediterranean dishes and take inspiration from a broad geographical area ranging from Italy to Portugal.

The kitchen at St Alban will also feature a Josper Grill, manufactured in Barcelona, which intensifies a dish's flavour.

The 130-cover St Alban, which is due to open this month, is located at Rex House on London's Lower Regent Street. It takes its name from St Alban's Street, which runs along one side of the building and will be run by former Ivy manager Mitch Everard.

The restaurant, designed by Stiff and Trevillion - the firm behind Wagamama and Satsuma - will comprise a modern interior, in stark contrast to restaurants the Ivy and the Wolseley.

By Kerstin Kühn

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