James Cochran joins Boxhall City as chef in residence

James Cochran has joined London’s Boxhall City, the latest food hall concept from Boxpark, as chef-in-residence.

Earlier this week, Cochran announced his departure from the Brave pub in London’s Islington after just four months in the role.

The Great British Menu 2018 winner’s involvement with Boxhall City is a homecoming of sorts for the chef, as he launched a permanent site for Goat by James Cochran in Boxpark Croydon in 2019.

Boxhall City is set to open on 10 April in London’s Liverpool Street with 13 restaurants, including Club Mexicana, Little Bao Boy and a dedicated chef collaboration space called Kitchen No. 8, where Cochran will be based later this year to serve his signature British-Caribbean cuisine.

Kitchen No. 8 will host a rotating roster of chefs, starting with Ms Joyce K, who starred on Channel 4’s Five Star Chef: Britain’s Next Great Chef alongside winner Dom Taylor. She will be serving Congolese-inspired dishes.

Cochran said: “Throughout my career, I’ve championed bold flavours, diverse cuisines and, above all, creativity in cooking. This opportunity at Kitchen No. 8 in Boxhall City will allow me to really get into a creative groove and test new dishes in such a beautiful and food-focused space, surrounded by a mix of global cuisines. Having worked in professional kitchens for nearly two decades, from the iconic Wheeler’s Oyster Bar as a teenager to my time in Michelin-starred kitchens, I’m delighted my journey as a chef has now led me in the direction of pursuing my own creative style and innovation.”

Ms Joyce K said: “Bringing my Congolese-inspired dishes to Kitchen No. 8 at Boxhall City is an incredible opportunity to share my style of cooking with a wider audience. Being the first chef to launch this innovative space, alongside talent like James Cochran, is a true honour.”