Chef Simon Bonwick takes on residence at the Oarsman in Marlow

Chef Simon Bonwick has taken up an upstairs residence at the Oarsman Pub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, following his departure from the Dew Drop Inn in Hurley last month.

 

He will be cooking dinners on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, as well as lunches on the last Thursday of every month, starting from 5 September.

 

Bonwick is collaborating with Nigel Sutcliffe, founder of Truffle Hunting, former director of the Fat Duck in Bray and co-owner of the Oarsman with chef James McLean.

 

The Oarsman opened in September 2021 as a 100-cover pub and bistro serving seasonal dishes.

 

Sutcliffe’s “phantasmagorical” wine menu will be paired with Bonwick’s food, which will be available in the form of a six-course menu for a sharing table of 14 guests.

 

Bonwick said: “Nigel and I have known each other for ages and so he has kindly given me a space to create, hang my art and make a home for my cooking. We’ve made the Upstairs at the Oarsman into a proper nice little bijou pad. I’ve a shoe box sized kitchen to cook in totally alone, it’s absolutely magical!

 

“I’m madly excited to be cooking solo again and looking forward to this challenge, these soirées promise to be intimate, exclusive and luxurious. The shared table concept is new to me, it’s fascinating. I’m looking forward to see how it evolves.”

 

It comes after the chef confirmed his departure from the Dew Drop Inn after 18 months at the Brakspear-owned pub.

 

His family previously ran the Crown at Burchetts Green in Maidenhead for nine years, with several of Bonwick’s nine children working in the restaurant. It won a Michelin star in 2016 and the Michelin Welcome & Service Award in 2020.

 

He was also briefly based at the Princess of Shoreditch pub in London, which has since been taken over by 2022 MasterChef: The Professionals winner Nikita Pathakji.