Jerome Ponchelle takes head chef role at the Capital

French chef Jérôme Ponchelle is to join the two-Michelin-starred restaurant at London's Capital hotel as head chef.

The move sees Ponchelle depart from his position of chef de cuisine at British restaurant Wiltons after seven years to step into the foot steps of Eric Chavot, who left the Capital in August.

He will be replaced at Wiltons by Andrew Turner, currently head chef at the Landau restaurant at London's Langham hotel.

Ponchelle will join the Knightsbridge-based Capital next month and brings with him 20 years of experience working in restaurants in France and England including a number of years cooking under Michel Bourdin at the Connaught.

His menu will have a French influence and will include signature dishes including lobster, crab and truffle omelette; and braised filet of wild Scottish turbot with Champagne sauce; next to British classics such as braised oxtail.

Ponchelle said he was excited about his new role. "It was a privilege to work at Wiltons but I wanted to move into a more challenging environment that will put my culinary experience to the test," he said.

He certainly has big shoes to fill at the Capital where Chavot held two Michelin-stars for eight years.