Forward of St Patrick’s Day, the rising affect of Irish hospitality stars on the London scene was celebrated

Health! London raises a glass to Irish hospitality

Irish hospitality talent appears to be on the rise in London as this year’s Murphia roster features a number of new arrivals.

The annual Murphia List, now in its ninth year, champions Irish staff working in restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels and comes from restaurant website Hot Dinners, which is supported by Irish food association Bord Bia. This year the total number of entries is 57 names, up from 55 last year, with nine new names, reflecting the rise of emerging Irish talent in the capital’s gastronomy scene.

Featuring chefs, restaurateurs, front of house, media, producers and more, these categories highlight not only the breadth of talent here in London, but also the breadth of career opportunities in the industry. New additions include Kildare-born Adam Nevin, who was recently appointed head chef at the renowned Grill at the Dorchester. Working with chef Tom Booton, Nevin was instrumental in reviving the elegant Grillroom restaurant.

The chef will be joined by two newcomers to the Front of House category, Michael Lynch – the renowned head butler at Claridge’s who stole the screen in recent BBC documentary The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild – and Olivia MacGowan. MacGowan joins the roster following her recent appointment and appointment as Assistant General Manager at Mayfair’s Humo, following successful stints at Scott’s and Scully St James.

Anna Haugh is a regular on the Murphia list (press handout)

Across town, another addition to the list is cooking talent Diarmund Goodwin of Sagar + Wilde. Goodwin, who grew up near Belfast, worked under the tutelage of Angela Hartnett before joining the team at Institution Trullo in Islington. His signature Basque-inspired cuisine at Bethnal Green Restaurant has earned him considerable recognition. Another win for Team Trullo sees chef and founder Conor Gadd nod.

Elsewhere, those dropped from this year’s list include John King, founder of Farringdon restaurant Bowling Bird, and Oliver Peyton, former Great British Menu judge and director of the Peyton and Byrne Group. However, the list still includes pillars of London’s Irish hospitality community. MasterChef judge and Executive Chef at Chelsea’s Myrtle Anna Haugh is a regular guest, as is three-Michelin-starred Executive Chef at Notting Hill’s CORE; Clara Smith.

The story goes on

Conor Gadd (press handout)

The list is notoriously popular with the industry, who celebrate the annual release with genuine Irish hospitality. The party, held this year at the glamorous Hotel Bloomsbury, promises to be a true who’s who of London’s top hospitality talent.

Hot Dinners co-founder Catherine Hanly, who is Irish herself, said of the 2023 List: “We love hearing about the creative contributions of the Irish to London hospitality every year.

“Whether they’re opening new restaurants, running fabulous pubs or serving amazing food, the London food and drink scene wouldn’t be the same without them.”

The full list is below; Visit hot-dinners.com for more information.

The Murphia 2023 list

cooks

• NEW: Adam Nevin, The Grill at the Dorchester

• NEW: Fionnan Flood, The Chelsea Pig

• NEW: Conor Gadd, Trullo

• NEW: Diarmuid Goodwin, Sager + Wilde

• Kenneth Culhane, The Dysart

• Nick Fitzgerald, Tacos Padre

• Fiona Hannon, Bentleys

• Anna Haugh, Myrtle

• Colin Kelly, 22 Grosvenor Sq

• Marguerite Keogh, The Five Fields

• Niamh Larkin, 45 Park Lane

• Dave McCarthy, Scotts

• Patrick Powell, Allegra

• Max Rocha, Cafe Cecilia

• Clare Smyth MBE, core of Clare Smyth

restaurateurs

• Richard Corrigan, Corrigan Collection

• Mark and Alan Wogan, Homeslice

• Robin and Sarah Gill, Bermondsey Larder, Darby’s & more

• John Devitt, Koya Soho, City of Koya

• Sinead Campbell, Manila Kanteen by Bong Bong

• Garrett Fitzgerald, Butchies

• Brian Hannon, Super 8 Restaurants

• David Moore, Pied a Terre

• John Nugent, Green & Fortune

• Ciara O’Shea and Ken Nally, F. Mondays

Pubs, bars, cafes and bakeries

• NEW: Colin Maher, JKS Pubs

• Oisin Rogers, publican and restaurateur

• Gearoid Devane, The Black Book

• Cormac Gibney, Gibney’s London

• Aaron Wall and Ciarán Smith, Homeboy, The Bottle Cocktail Shop

• James Hennebry, Rosslyn Coffee

• Dee Retali, Fortitude Bakehouse

house front

• NEW: Michael Lynch, Claridges

• NEW: Olivia MacGowan, Humo

• Richie Corrigan, The Corrigan Collection

• Conor Daly, The George

• Fergal Lee, The Wolseley

• Shane McHugh, Goodman Group

• Joe Warwick, Bouchon Racine

Backstage

• NEW: Shayne Brady, BradyWilliams

• NEW: Andrew Fowler

• Darren McHugh, MJMK

• Molly Hutchinson, Meatopia

• Fiona Leahy, Fiona Leahy Design

• Sinead Mallozzi, sketch

producers and traders

• James Goggin, Empirical

• Simon Lamont, Rock Oysters

• Evin O’Riordain, The Kernel Brewery

• Darragh O’Shea, O’Shea’s butcher

• Steve Ryan, Root + Bone, 40FT Brewery, Acme Fire Cult

media

• Jessica Corrigan, Crab Communications

• Diana Henry, writer and broadcaster

• Niamh Shields, novelist and cookbook author