Ben Taylor appointed head chef at Open Restaurant Group’s Black & Green

Ben Taylor has been appointed head chef at Open Restaurant Group’s Black & Green restaurant in Barnt Green, Birmingham.

Taylor joins the AA-rosette, 16-seater restaurant from the two-AA-rosette Le Petit Bois in Moseley, where he was chef patron until its closure in 2024.

He replaces Darren Meacham, who has stepped up into a new role within Open Restaurant Group, the rapidly growing group run by chef Andrew Sheridan and business partners Sam and Emma Morgan.

Sam said: “I’ve known Ben and his wife for a long time; Emma and I used to eat at Le Petit Bois in Moseley regularly and we all became friends. I know what a good chef he is and he will make a brilliant addition to the team at ORG.”

Taylor added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I look forward to stepping into this new head chef role at Black & Green.”

ORG also operates the three-AA-rosette 8 By Andrew Sheridan in Liverpool, Daise in the Wirral, Dishes in Prestatyn, and the Bracebridge in Sutton Coldfield.

This week, the group acquired Gary Usher’s Hispi in Didsbury and agreed to retain all staff at the restaurant.

ORG will open the Counter in Manchester this September.

Black and Green was launched by Sheridan in a former hairdressers in 2022.