Murano to relaunch with new head chef ahead of 15th anniversary

The London restaurant will close later this month for a three-week refurbishment and officially reopen on 18 September with George Ormond taking over the kitchen.

He replaces Emily Brightman, who has overseen the stoves at Murano for nearly seven years.

Ormond has worked with Hartnett to develop a new menu for the restaurant, which will focus on flavours from across Italy and include dishes such as smoked ricotta tart with pickled walnuts and home-cured bresaola; lamb shoulder tortellini with brown butter and sage; monkfish tonnato with fennel and confit lemon; and olive oil cake with fig leaf ice cream and figs.

Hartnett originally opened Murano in September 2008, having previously spent several years working under Gordon Ramsay.

Murano earned its Michelin star within four months in early 2009, followed by four AA rosettes, both of which the restaurant has retained ever since.

The restaurant’s new look is being overseen by Fabled Studio and will take inspiration from the island of Murano itself. The main dining room will be covered in a carpet described as being ‘reminiscent of the Romanesque Basilica of Santa Maria’ and feature a large Murano glass chandelier; muted wood panelling; and an extended, tiled bar.

“I love Murano, and have had so many amazing people working with me over the last 15 years, some of them who are still with me today,” says Hartnett.

“After the refurbishment, I’m really looking forward to a new era of the restaurant with this team.”

Hartnett also operates the more casual Cafe Murano brand, which has sites in St James’s, Covent Garden and Bermondsey.