Big chef for a big hotel

Joel Antunes is returning to London to take on the role of executive chef at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London.

Due to open early next year, the new £350 million hotel will feature a 200-seat restaurant, 30-seat sushi restaurant, high-end coffee shop, lounge, bar and pastry counter, as well as 24-hour room service and banqueting facilities.

Over his 30-year career Antunes has worked in some of the world’s top kitchens, including Troisgros and Maximin in France, The Connaught and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in the UK, The Oak Room at The Plaza in New York and Kiyomi Mikuni in Tokyo.

Explaining his decision to return to London, Antunes said: “The restaurant scene has changed dramatically in the decade since I last worked here – people are so much better educated about food and wine and London is now one of the most exciting food capitals of the world.”

In the months leading up to the launch, Antunes will be putting together the various menus on offer and training his new team of chefs.

The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London represents the largest purpose-built hotel to open in the UK capital in a generation. With impressive views across the river to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, it will offer over 1,000 guest rooms, a 1,200 square metre ballroom and a luxury spa.

Gabriel Savage, 27.10.09