Chef Patrick Powell leaves the Midland Grand Dining Room and Allegra

Chef Patrick Powell has left the Midland Grand Dining Room in London’s King’s Cross and Allegra in London’s Stratford, both of which are restaurants he opened.

His departure follows a seven-year partnership with developer and hotelier Harry Handelsman, owner of the St. Pancras Renaissance hotel, where the Midland Grand Dining Room opened in April 2023, and the Stratford, where Powell launched Allegra in 2019.

The former Chiltern Firehouse head chef is believed to be seeking opportunities “more aligned to his long-term culinary vision” as he embarks on his “next chapter”.

Powell has already completed his final service at the Midland Grand Dining Room and has passed on his responsibilities to head chef Charlie Crote.

He will remain at Allegra until his last service on 14 July.  

Powell said: “To have had the opportunity to open restaurants in not one, but two of London’s most iconic buildings has been a privilege and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved, none of which would have been possible without the hard work of my brilliant front and back of house teams, both past and present. However, the time has come for me to move on and I am hugely excited for the future and my next chapter.”

Handlesman added: “I would like to thank Patrick for his hard work, talent and passion in making The Midland Grand Dining Room and Allegra the success they are today. It’s been a pleasure working with him for the best part of a decade and I wish him all the best for what’s coming next.”

The Midland Grand Dining Room took over what was formerly Marcus Wareing’s the Gilbert Scott.

Powell’s restaurant received praise from Time Out for being “the very definition of a treat”, as well as from The Guardian for being both “fancy, tasty, memorable, beautiful and incredibly usefully close to transport links”.

Meanwhile, Allegra was recognised by The Times for its “menu rippling with excitements” and by The Guardian for “food that seeks to make you fat, and hooray for that”.