Family has to come first for Pétrus chef Darren Velvick

Pétrus head chef Darren Velvick has left the restaurant after working with Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay for more than seven years.

The 32-year-old said he had decided to leave in order to spend more time with his baby son.

Wareing has promoted Alan Williams to head chef, while Tristan Welch, a former Gordon Ramsay scholar, has become senior sous chef.

Both chefs will now run the Pétrus kitchen, but Williams will switch between Pétrus and the Savoy Grill to cover for Wareing.

"There will be a junior sous chef at Pétrus as well, so this should bring a bit of flexibility," Wareing said. "One will be able to go in later and the other one go home earlier. I want a fresher team in the kitchen."

Velvick is looking out for possible projects in or around Sevenoaks in Kent, where he is based. "But I won't be chasing stars, not with the little one about," he said.

By Dan Bignold

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