In 2019 The Dorchester in London made the headlines when it announced the new Head Chef of one of its restaurants, “The Grill at The Dorchester”, renaming it “The Grill by Tom Booton at The Dorchester”. Not simply because the chef was relatively unknown at the time, but also because 27-year-old Chef Tom was the youngest chef ever to have been offered, and accepted, this heavy mantle.

Hailing from Colchester in Essex, Tom’s employers at the local restaurant, The Talbooth, could have been forgiven for not suspecting that the 15-year-old teenager who had recently started in their kitchen, was on his way to such a glittering culinary career. He trained under chef Ian Rhodes for five years before moving to London to work as part of the team at L’Autre Pied and then The Westbury hotel – punctuated by an international detour in restaurants in New York, Copenhagen and Iceland. On his return, he joined Chef Ollie Dabbous in 2016 before returning to the Westbury, this time as Head Chef of Michelin starred Alyn Williams at The Westbury.

Tom’s menu focuses on adventurous dishes made from British produce, in an upbeat and informal atmosphere. Since its re-launch under Tom’s guidance, The Grill by Tom Booton has achieved No.68 position in the National Restaurant Awards 2022 and 3 AA Rosettes in 2021, the same year he won the “Chef to Watch Award” at the National Restaurant Awards.

Although usually based at his restaurant, Tom enjoys finding time for collaborations and residencies around the country. In 2022 he and his team took The Grill at The Dorchester to Royal Ascot for the first time, positioned within the Royal Enclosure, and such was its success, they were invited back for 2023, where it has now established itself firmly amongst both the racing fraternity and the social visitors as the ultimate place to try to get a table.

In the Winter Season, Tom oversees a residency at The Cresta Run’s “home” within the Kulm Hotel, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, in St Moritz, where his restaurant, Sunny Bar by Tom Booton offers a welcome respite and dinner at the end of a long day on the slopes in this world-famous alpine resort.

When not in the kitchen, Tom finds time to do TV appearances including Saturday Kitchen and MasterChef.