New head chef at people's palace

The People's Palace on London's South Bank, which was one-year-old last week, will have a new head chef from the end of April, writes Angela Jameson.

Stephen Carter, formerly head chef at Stephen Bull's Bistro, London, replaces Stuart Busby, who helped establish the 300-seat restaurant with Gary Rhodes. Mr Busby returns to the Greenhouse as senior sous chef.

Joe Levin, proprietor of the People's Palace, said that Mr Busby had always intended his role there to be temporary. Mr Carter's arrival means the People's Palace menu will become more decidedly modern British and he will be given a free hand to develop new menus and ideas.

Mr Carter, who has been at Stephen Bull for four years, said it was a "big new challenge". His appointment is permanent and Gary Rhodes is no longer involved.

Mr Levin said he would not raise the restaurant's prices - its "secret to success". He added that the first year had seen 110,000 customers.

"Now we've developed the systems I would like to step it up a few gears," said Mr Levin.

However, this did not mean winning awards. "If we ever get accolades it is very nice. But we are here to look after people," he said.