Michelin-star chef leaves Cliveden to go solo

Michelin-starred chef Robert Thompson is leaving his position as head chef at luxury hotel operator Von Essen's Cliveden property.

The chef only joined fine-dining restaurant Waldo's eight months ago, but has announced he is departing to run his own restaurant on the Isle of Wight.

He told Caterersearch: "My dream to run my own restaurant has come true, much sooner than I thought. I can't reveal all the details yet, but can say that it is a 26-seat restaurant with seven rooms, and I'll be cooking much the same thing I do here, except using local produce from the Isle of Wight".

Thompson was approached by the hotel two weeks ago and said it quickly became apparent that it was "too good an opportunity to miss".

He will leave the Cliveden property in four weeks' time with his pastry chef Diana Gould.

Nick Romano, chief executive of Von Essen, said: "We are used to having long and successful relationships with our chefs across all of our 27 properties, our head chefs having been with us for many years, but we see Robert's culinary skills ascending and would not stand in the way of this true chef."

Von Essen hotels recently began construction work on a brand new 70-room riverside hotel and spa, rooftop restaurant and executive international business suite at Battersea, London, which is due to launch in Spring 2009.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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