Trio of top chefs announced for new Annabel’s club
Alain Ducasse protegé Christopher Marleix will be head chef in the Brasserie.
Formerly head chef of The Grill at The Dorchester, his career also includes roles at the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris, and as executive sous chef at Le Relais Plaza.
Julien Jouhannaud will take on the role of executive chef across parent group The Birley Clubs.
Previously of Le Bilboquet in New York, Jouhannaud has also worked under Alain Ducasse, and his career includes executive sous chef roles at the Bar & Boeuf, Monaco; and of Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis Hotel, Washington DC.
Current Annabel's head chef Ryan Brown will take on the role as head chef for Annabel's Nightclub.
Originally from Canada, he has apprenticed for Thomas Keller at Bouchon, California; Mauro Colagreco in Menton, France; and has run his own kitchen in Paris. His London career includes the role of head chef at Oblix in the Shard.
The chefs will join the rest of the operations team, which has been personally chosen by restaurant entrepreneur and owner Richard Caring, who bought The Birley Group in 2007, making it part of his Caprice Holdings group.
Guillaume Gilpa, previously of The Chiltern Firehouse, has joined as executive director; and Graziano Arricale is operations director.
“This is an iconic project to be a part of,” says Gilpa. “We are taking the classic DNA of Annabel’s and moving it forward for the future, respectfully and tastefully. Members will be able to enjoy Annabel’s all day long, from early in the morning and late into the night - their every need looked after with warmth and genuine hospitality.”
Annabel’s: A historic re-opening
Photo: Annabel's - The Garden Room
Annabel’s, the historic London member’s club originally founded in 1963 at Berkeley Square, is to re-open two doors down from its original address.
The newly revamped, 26,000 sq ft, four-storey space will include restaurants and dining areas – including a year-round garden restaurant on the terrace ‒ plus bars, and private dining rooms.
There will also be a ‘cigar salon’, a basement nightclub, and a spa.
Design comes from the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio – a favourite designer of London restaurants, including The Ivy and Sexy Fish – and has championed the original Rococo features of the building.
Membership is invitation, nomination, and committee acceptance only; and the waiting list is now open.
Past and present members are said to include Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jack Nicholson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Birley Group also includes Harry's Bar and Mark's Club, and is part of the wider giant, the Caprice Holdings group, which also includes iconic sites such as The Ivy, Le Caprice, J Sheekey, Bam-Bou, and Sexy Fish.
