Simon Rogan to open Aulis in Thailand

Simon Rogan has announced he will be launching his first Aulis restaurant in Thailand this December, seven years after he started the concept in the UK.

The chef-owner of the three Michelin-starred L'Enclume in Cumbria will be opening his 15-cover chef's table restaurant in the Iniala Beach House in Phuket.

The restaurant also marks a partnership with the owner of the Iniala hotel brand, Mark Weingard, who Rogan collaborated with for his restaurant Ion Harbour in the group's sister property, Iniala Harbour House in Malta.

Aulis began in Cartmel in 2016 and has since launched in London (2017) and Hong Kong (2019). The name pays tribute to Finnish chef Aulis Lehtimaki, a former member of L'Enclume's team.

Aulis Phuket will be led by Giacomo Primante, who was most recently at the three Michelin-starred Benu in San Francisco and Mirazur in France.

The menu will continue Aulis' tradition of experimenting with local ingredients and working with local farmers, while also paying homage to dishes served at Rogan's portfolio of restaurants.

Commenting on the launch, Rogan said: "Achieving our 3 Michelin stars at L'Enclume last year, 20 years after first opening, felt like a long-held and hard earned dream come true. More than anything it has ignited our drive and ambition further. It feels exciting to find new ways to challenge ourselves, and one of the ways we are doing that is by exploring new countries and adapting our refined farm-to-table ethos which we have honed in Cartmel, to these new climates, terrains and cultures."