Stephen Bunch named head chef at the Brave in London

Stephen Bunch has taken over as head chef at the Brave in London’s Islington, following the departure of James Cochran last month.

He has over a decade’s experience in the industry, having worked across the Michelin-starred Maze by Gordon Ramsay in London’s Mayfair, Morston Hall in Norfolk and London Shell Company, which is known for its barge-based restaurant.

Bunch will offer a seafood-focused menu at the 50-cover Brave, with new dishes such as market whole fish of the day with brown butter, capers and cockles.

He will also be placing an emphasis on meat butchery, serving the likes of ‘made to share’ côte de boeuf steak.

Suppliers include Thornicrofts, Keltic Seafare and Aynhoe venison courtesy of the much-lauded Lake District Farmers.

The Englefield in Islington relaunched as the Brave in December last year with Cochran at the helm, who has left to take on a chef-in-residence role at Boxhall City in London’s Liverpool Street.