Great Fosters hotel to relaunch the Tudor Room with chef Alex Payne

The Great Fosters hotel in Egham, Surrey is to relaunch its Tudor Room restaurant as the Tudor Pass under new executive chef Alex Payne on 1 October.

It comes after the departure of the restaurant’s former executive chef Tony Parkin in July.

Payne competed in the 2018 series of MasterChef: The Professionals and was previously head chef at the Thames Table at Crockers in Henley-on-Thames. In the past, he has worked with Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay.

At the Tudor Pass, he will oversee the lunch and dinner menu, serving dishes with seasonal ingredients using modern techniques.

Payne said: “My team and I plan to explain and serve many of the dishes directly to diners to bring some of the excitement and theatre of the kitchen into the restaurant. I want to create lasting memories for our guests; whether that’s eating something they’ve never tasted before, finding their new favourite wine that’s paired with one of our dishes, or simply learning something new about cooking from the team.”

Prem Kumar, hotel manager at the Great Fosters Estate, added: “We are delighted to be opening the Tudor Pass and eagerly anticipate Alex’s exciting menu. I know that our guests are really going to enjoy this new style of cooking and we all look forward to The Tudor Pass becoming the restaurant of choice for local Surrey residents as well as becoming a reason to visit for guests coming to stay overnight with us.”

The recently refurbished Tudor Pass only has seven tables and will be open Wednesdays to Saturdays, with prices starting at £65 for a four-course lunch and £120 for a seven-course dinner.

The Great Fosters is part of the Alexander Hotel Collection and features 56 individually designed bedrooms, two restaurants, private dining facilities and the Utopia Retreat.