Simon Radley
Encyclopedia
Simon Radley is a British chef. He is executive chef of the restaurant Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor
, formerly known as The Arkle. Part of the Chester Grosvenor and Spa
hotel in the United Kingdom, the restaurant has retained its Michelin star for over 18 consecutive years.
. While still a child, his family moved to Tring
, Hertfordshire, where he lived until he was 16. He then completed a catering course at Crewe College (now known as South Cheshire College
) and went to Mâcon
, where he worked as a waiter for three weeks. Upon returning to England, he held a job in Wilmslow
as a chef, before joining the Chester Grosvenor and Spa as chef de partie, in 1986.
Noted for having potential as a chef, Radley was encouraged to expand his experience and skills, and he therefore moved to London to work for a year at Inigo Jones, a restaurant in Covent Garden now known as The Forge, and run at the time by celebrity chef Paul Gayler.
In 1988, he returned to the Chester Grosvenor and, two years later, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star. Radley had further opportunities to expand his skills, spending time abroad in 1991 at the Peninsula Hotel
in Hong Kong and the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok. Closer to home, in 1994, Radley worked as executive chef at New Hall Manor
in the West Midlands and later at the Nunsmere Hall Hotel in Cheshire.
Chester Grosvenor and Spa
Chester Grosvenor and Spa is an hotel in Chester, England. The Grade II listed building was built between 1863 and 1866 and is owned by the Duke of Westminster...
, formerly known as The Arkle. Part of the Chester Grosvenor and Spa
Chester Grosvenor and Spa
Chester Grosvenor and Spa is an hotel in Chester, England. The Grade II listed building was built between 1863 and 1866 and is owned by the Duke of Westminster...
hotel in the United Kingdom, the restaurant has retained its Michelin star for over 18 consecutive years.
Biography and early career
Radley was born in 1965 in the United Kingdom city of ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. While still a child, his family moved to Tring
Tring
Tring is a small market town and also a civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. Situated north-west of London and linked to London by the old Roman road of Akeman Street, by the modern A41, by the Grand Union Canal and by rail lines to Euston Station, Tring is now largely a...
, Hertfordshire, where he lived until he was 16. He then completed a catering course at Crewe College (now known as South Cheshire College
South Cheshire College
South Cheshire College is a further education college, located in Crewe, England. The College is a single campus situated in a residential area about one mile from Crewe town center. The College is the sole provider of post-16 education in Crewe. It also attracts students from Nantwich, Alsager,...
) and went to Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
, where he worked as a waiter for three weeks. Upon returning to England, he held a job in Wilmslow
Wilmslow
-Economy:Wilmslow is well known, like Alderley Edge, for having many famous residents, notably footballers, stars of Coronation Street and rich North West businessmen. The town is part of the so-called Golden Triangle in the north west together with Alderley Edge and Prestbury...
as a chef, before joining the Chester Grosvenor and Spa as chef de partie, in 1986.
Noted for having potential as a chef, Radley was encouraged to expand his experience and skills, and he therefore moved to London to work for a year at Inigo Jones, a restaurant in Covent Garden now known as The Forge, and run at the time by celebrity chef Paul Gayler.
In 1988, he returned to the Chester Grosvenor and, two years later, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star. Radley had further opportunities to expand his skills, spending time abroad in 1991 at the Peninsula Hotel
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong is one of the most internationally recognizable hotels in Hong Kong. Opened in 1928, it is Hong Kong's most historical hotel. It is located at the junction of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong...
in Hong Kong and the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok. Closer to home, in 1994, Radley worked as executive chef at New Hall Manor
New Hall Manor
New Hall Manor is a medieval manor house, now used as a hotel, located in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England.It is claimed to be one of the oldest inhabited moated houses in Britain, dating from the 13th century when the Earl of Warwick built a hunting lodge on the site...
in the West Midlands and later at the Nunsmere Hall Hotel in Cheshire.