Chris Whitmore named head chef of Cornwall’s Scarlet hotel 

Chris Whitmore has been appointed head chef of the Scarlet hotel in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, succeeding Jack Clayton who departed to join Tom Sellers’ MOR at the Carbis Bay Estate in St Ives.

Whitmore has a background in fine dining having previously worked at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze and within Jason Atherton’s the Social Group.

He joins the Scarlet after seven years away from the kitchen, during which he cultivated a market garden and food forest to supply sustainable produce to local restaurants.

Whitmore will develop menus that showcase “a daily celebration of nature’s bounty”, with sustainability at its heart.

Tom Hunter, head of food for Red Hotels, said: “We’re excited to welcome Chris to the team. His appointment is less about a new direction and more about how closely he aligns with our ethos, and how he can bring that to life through his food.”

Whitmore added: “I’m delighted to be joining Scarlet and to be working with such exceptional local ingredients and suppliers. The changing seasons will be at the heart of everything we create, from relaxed lunches and afternoon teas through to our evening tasting menu. 

“This is a particularly exciting time to be coming on board, with an abundance of wonderful produce. I’m particularly loving the tomatoes available presently. If I had to name one must-try dish from the summer menu it would be the lamb, broad beans, gem lettuce, sheep’s cheese gnocchi and onion puree. I’m very much looking forward to welcoming hotel guests and non-residents to our beautiful sea view dining room.”

The hotel’s restaurant will open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea as well as offering à la carte and tasting course dinner menus.