‘Champion of Caribbean cuisine’ chef Dom Taylor dies

Chef Dom Taylor, winner of Channel 4’s Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef and founder of the Good Front Room restaurant, has died.

 

His death was confirmed by a statement from his team at the Good Front Room in London’s Dalston. 

 

In a tribute, chef Michel Roux, who was also a judge for the hit television show, described Taylor’s cooking as a "mirror image of him, full of love and generosity". 

 

Taylor was born to a Jamaican mother and a Saint Lucian father and started cooking at Lewisham College in London, where he trained in classical French cuisine.

 

He furthered his studies at Thames Valley University and spent a year working in South Carolina in the US before returning to London, where he was head chef of the Belgraves hotel (now the Hari) in Belgravia and the Courthouse hotel in Shoreditch.

 

In a 2023 interview with The Caterer, Taylor admitted he was initially reluctant to pursue Caribbean food professionally because “no one was really steering the ship” in his heritage cuisine.

 

However, towards his late 30s, he realised there were some “fantastic” Caribbean chefs, such as Kerth Gumbs and Jason Howard, who were “making a stamp” in that field, inspiring others to follow suit.

 

Prior to his television debut in 2023, Taylor operated a private chef business, Chef Dom Taylor Kitchen, which specialised in Caribbean cuisine and also had a restaurant residency at Fourteen87 in Catford, south-east London.

 

Over the course of Channel 4 series Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef, the chef cemented his reputation as a pioneer in Caribbean fine dining, and after winning the show, he launched a 10-month residency at the Langham, London, called the Good Front Room, which was widely reported to have been the first Caribbean restaurant to open within a luxury London hotel.

 

He told The Caterer at the time of its launch: “One of the issues with Caribbean food is consistency and [I’m] making it my life’s work to get that right.”

 

In August 2023, the Good Front Room received a rave review from Jimi Famurewa, former food critic at the Evening Standard, who praised Taylor’s “jubilant, irrepressible food that provides the best possible advert for diversified thinking and fresh perspectives”.

 

In May 2025, the chef opened Marvee’s Food Shop in London’s Ladbroke Grove, which marked his first major project after his pop-up restaurant drew to a close at the Langham.

 

The 60-cover restaurant, which served Caribbean classics such as Bammy (a traditional cassava bread) and Jamaican Festival (a deep-fried sweet bread), closed after just three months of trading.

 

But Taylor returned to the London dining scene earlier this year with a permanent outpost of the Good Front Room in Dalston.  

 

He described the restaurant as an homage to his great aunt Myrtle and the sacred front rooms of many Caribbean households.

 

Taylor previously said of the Good Front Room: “As a grandchild of the Windrush generation, I feel a responsibility to carry the torch and keep our stories, recipes and traditions alive. Doing this now feels like the right moment to build something entirely my own, rooted in where I come from and led with intention.”

 

The Good Front Room stated it will remain open as it continues to "honour Dom’s legacy and continue the work he was so passionate about". 

 

The industry pays tribute

 

Lorraine Copes, chief executive and founder, Be Inclusive Hospitality

 

"Truly devastating news. Chef Dom Taylor was warm, passionate, and funny, and has been a trailblazer in conveying to the world the brilliance of Caribbean food. A true creative, what he created on the plate and what he wore often reflected that brilliance. One of the things I most loved and admired about Dom is how boldly and proudly he championed both Jamaican and St Lucian food, the food of his heritage. If you have ever dined with Dom, you would have experienced Caribbean food that was both familiar and new, thanks to his creative take on tradition. He has been a true trailblazer in hospitality and carved a path for Caribbean food that I have no doubt many will follow for decades to come. The world and this sector have lost someone very special. He will be missed."

 

Jess and Jo Edun, founders of the Flygerians 

 

"We first met at the Be Inclusive Hospitality community awards show. He had that distinctive beanie hat on, and we were laughing because it was so hot in there. We joked, “Free the scalp!”. From that moment, we built a beautiful connection. Ever since, he never stopped championing us. He’d always send messages telling us to keep pushing, even during our darkest days. That kind of support is something you never forget.

 

"It’s absolutely devastating that someone so talented, so kind and such a beautiful human has been taken so soon. You always knew when he was in the room because his laughter and his smile lit up every space he entered. Experiencing his food at the Langham was one of those unforgettable moments. The care, creativity and passion he poured into every dish took food to another level. He wasn’t just an incredible chef. He championed the culture, celebrated others and was always building something greater than himself. To hear that he’s passed away so suddenly is truly heart-breaking.

 

"Rest in power, brother. Thank you for your kindness, your encouragement and the legacy you’ve left behind. You will never be forgotten, and your impact will continue to live on through everyone you inspired. Sending love and strength to his family, friends and everyone whose life he touched."  

 

Melissa Thompson, chef and writer

 

“Dom Taylor was a beautiful human and an incredible chef. He told stories through his food with humour and warmth, and his cooking was so clever. He was so creative, his food could be enjoyed by everyone from your 80-year-old uncle to young professionals. He was brilliantly innovative and everyone was welcome round his table. I’ll miss his beautiful smile, enthusiasm and funny stories. His legacy will live on in London’s food scene. When the first Caribbean restaurant gets a Michelin star, Dom will have played a massive part in it. Even the fact that that’s a possibility now - unthinkable even 10 years ago - has a lot to do with Dom and what he proved could happen when island food gets the platform it deserves. Rest well Dom.”

 

Mike Reid, chef and former culinary director of Rare Restaurants

 

"Dom and I met on Five Star Kitchen, and I got to watch him go from contestant to champion — and it was thoroughly deserved. What always struck me about Dom was how much of himself he put into his food. Caribbean cuisine ran through everything he did, it was his heritage, his family, his story, and he cooked it with a pride and generosity that you could taste in every dish. He was warm, funny, and completely unpretentious about his talent, which is rare in this industry. The Good Front Room was exactly who he was: bold, joyful, rooted in home. Hospitality has lost a genuine one, and I’ve lost a friend. My thoughts are with his family and everyone at The Good Front Room. Rest easy, Dom."

 

Michel Roux, chef and culinary consultant at the Langham, London 

 

“Dom’s cooking was a mirror image of him, full of love and generosity; he brought joy to the table. It was a real privilege to know him and to experience his talent first-hand. He touched so many people through his cooking, and I will remember him with great fondness.”

 

Ravneet Gill, chef and founder of Gina in Chingford

 

"Dom was warm, intelligent and full of depth. Even when he wasn’t talking about happy things, he somehow always seemed to be smiling. He was someone you could get completely distracted talking to. Our most recent phone call involved both of us wondering what on earth we were doing with ourselves in the restaurant world, alongside encouraging conversations about where his career might go next."

 

Laura Harris, founder of Lula’s Patties and Platters

 

"Dom was one of the most down to earth and kind hearted people I met on my food journey. Whenever I reached out for advice or support, he never hesitated to help. His generosity, encouragement and willingness to share his knowledge inspired so many of us. Thank you for everything, Dom. You will be deeply missed. Rest peacefully."

 

Joseph-Benjamin Cumberbatch, founder of Kitchen with Cumbers

 

"There are some people whose impact extends far beyond their craft. Dom Taylor was one of them. We met when I was just beginning to share my culinary journey online. Seeing someone who looked like me cooking with such skill, joy and authenticity showed me what was possible. Dom didn’t just cook—he told stories, celebrated culture and built community. We even discovered we rode the same type of bike and talked about riding together one day. Though we never did, I’ll carry you with me on every ride. Dom was a beacon of joy and a true mentor—generous with his time, open to learning, and always encouraging others. From my first supper club onward, his support meant everything. He celebrated every milestone and reminded us there is space for us all to succeed. Thank you, Dom, for your kindness, wisdom and belief in others. Your legacy lives on in every table, every community, and every chef you inspired. Rest well, Chef. You will be deeply missed."

 

Undr, Ladbroke Grove, London

 

“Dom’s passion, creativity and commitment to celebrating Caribbean food and culture inspired so many. We feel incredibly grateful to have hosted Marvee’s Food Shop and to have shared in a small part of his remarkable journey. Your legacy will live on through the lives you touched and the community you built. Sending love to your family, friends and all who are mourning your loss.”

 

The Good Front Room, Dalston, London

 

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the sudden passing of our founder, chef Dom Taylor. Dom was a visionary whose bold, joyful approach to celebrating the Caribbean cuisine of his childhood brought a fresh and exciting voice to London’s restaurant scene. His passion, talent and generosity touched so many people, and his legacy will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him and experiencing his food.

 

“He will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched during this incredibly difficult time. We kindly ask that everyone respects the privacy of Dom’s loved ones at this time.”

 

The Langham, London

 

"The team at The Langham, including Chef Michel Roux, were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dominic Taylor. He was a star of the hospitality industry and did so much to champion Caribbean food and culture in London. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

 

Ashley Letchford, former managing director of the Jam Tree Group

 

“Dominic Taylor was far more than a business partner or someone I worked with. He was my friend. From the day I interviewed him to become executive chef of the Jam Tree Group, I knew he was special. He spent the next couple of years with us before we sold the business, and from the very beginning he blew us away with his mojito chicken wings. Then came his unforgettable jerk chicken thighs with plantain jam, packed with heat, flavour and everything that made his food so distinctive.

 

“Watching him go on to win Five Star Kitchen before becoming the driving force behind the Good Front Room at the Langham made me incredibly proud. I was always proud to call him my friend and honoured to have played a small part as his mentor along the way. It’s hard to believe someone with so much left to give has been taken so soon. I’ll always be grateful for the conversations we shared, the laughs we had, and the memories we made together.”

 

Please share your tributes to Dom Taylor to jungmin.seo@thecaterer.com.