Wright makes quick exit at Great Eastern

Jonathan Wright has left his post as executive chef at the Great Eastern hotel in London just two months after opening its flagship restaurant.

The hasty departure last week follows the opening of Aurora, a fine-dining restaurant in November. Wright was also responsible for five other restaurants and bars in the hotel, which is a joint venture between Sir Terence Conran and hotel group Wyndham International.

A spokesman said that Wright handed in a brief letter of resignation on Friday and it was agreed he would leave that day.

"It was agreed that once he had made a decision to go it would be difficult to sustain the passion," the spokesman said. "His position as an executive chef meant that in addition to his skills and talents a significant part of the job was management. I think that if he found anything frustrating it was that side of the job."

Wright has been working with Conran to set up the restaurant side of the Great Eastern since his departure from his head chef post at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire last year.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 20 - 26 January 2000