Robert Thompson (chef)

Last updated
Robert Thompson

MBE
Born24 May 1981
Bedfordshire
Culinary career
Cooking style British cuisine
Current restaurant(s)
  • Thompson's, 11 Town Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight
Website www.robertthompson.co.uk

Robert Thompson MBE (born 24 May 1981) is a British chef. He was in 2007 the youngest British chef to be awarded a Michelin star [1] in his own right. He achieved this at Winteringham Fields, Lincolnshire before again earning a star at The Hambrough restaurant in Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight. Thompson left the Hambrough in 2013 [2] and in 2014 began working at the George Hotel in nearby Yarmouth. [3] In 2015, Thompson opened his first solo concept restaurant called Thompson's on the Isle of Wight in the town Newport. [4]

Career

Born in Bedfordshire England, Thompson was inspired to cook by brother Patrick and acquired a love of cooking at just 10 years old. After attending Thames Valley Community College, he started his cooking career with an apprenticeship at L'Ortolan in Reading then Sojourns at The Falcon and Chimney's Restaurant. He settled as a commis chef in 2001 at Winteringham Fields under Michelin chef Germain Schwabb winning the 2006 Acorn Award. [5] Thompson was named head chef two years later at the age of 23 after Germain retired. Here, he was awarded his first Michelin star and listed as chef to watch for the future by journalist Jay Rayner. [6]

After maintaining two Michelin stars and winning one of his own, Thompson departed for Waldo's at the Cliveden for one year, [7] but was recruited to be the face of a hotel business on the Isle of Wight at The Hambrough in Ventnor. [8] [9] Four months after taking on head chef duties in 2008, Thompson won the Isle of Wight its only Michelin star [10] and listed 20th best restaurant in the UK by the Good Food Guide as well as 18th in the Sunday Times Hardens Top 100.

Thompson has now opened his first solo restaurant on the Isle of Wight in the town of Newport named Thompson's Restaurant. [11]

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to hospitality, tourism and charity. [12]

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References

  1. ↑ Clay, Xanthe (29 September 2007). "Recipes: Winteringham Fields' chef Robert Thompson" . The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  2. ↑ Alder-Smith, Malcolm. "Comment: Robert Thompson". mattandcat.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  3. ↑ Pearce, Emily. "New team pledges big things for Isle of Wight hotel". Isle of Wight County Press . Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Robert Thompson opens his own restaurant in the Island's capital town". tasteofthewight.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Acorn Award". caterersearch.com. 27 April 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2006.
  6. ↑ Rayner, Jay (15 December 2007). "Chefs to watch". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "Robert Thompson". caterersearch.com. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  8. ↑ "Robert Thompson". caterersearch.com. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  9. ↑ "Robert Thompson". ventnorblog.com. 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  10. ↑ "Robert Thompson". ventnorblog.com. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  11. ↑ "Thompson's opens tomorrow". tasteofthewight.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B25.
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