Chris Shaw named head chef at Townsend in Whitechapel Gallery

Chris Shaw has been appointed head chef at Townsend, the restaurant and café at Whitechapel Gallery in London.

He replaces outgoing head chef Joe Fox, who leaves to take a senior chef role with the Firmdale Hotel Group.

Shaw has worked in several London restaurants and was previously commis chef at Bao Soho, senior chef de partie at Roux at Parliament Square, junior sous chef at Petersham Nurseries, and senior sous chef at Emile.

He joins Townsend from this month and has begun offering a special summer set dinner menu of four courses for £30, available until 31 August. Dishes include radishes with nasturtium pesto; fillets of gurnard with summer tomatoes and olives; and plum, fig leaf, meringue and whipped yogurt.

Townsend was founded by restaurateur Nick Gilkinson and opened in February 2020. The 32-cover restaurant offers seasonal dishes and a wine list focusing on Old World vineyards and a mix of natural and traditional methods.

The dining room and 14-cover private dining room are overseen by general manager Hannah Robson, previously of Emile, Smokestak and Petersham Nurseries.