Dom Chapman buys the Crown at Burchetts Green from Simon Bonwick

Dominic Chapman, chef-proprietor of the Beehive at White Waltham, Berkshire, is taking over the Crown at Burchetts Green from Simon Bonwick.

The business will reopen on 15 June with Chapman in the kitchen and his wife Helena running front of house. Although the property will come under the family business, run by chairman Nick Chapman, both the Beehive and the Crown will be operated as “distinctive and individual restaurants in their own right”.

Dominic Chapman described it as “an exciting new opportunity”, adding: “In the kitchen, my aim will be to build on the Crown’s great culinary reputation, matched of course by the warmth of our hospitality and a beautiful wine list.”

Bonwick announced he and his family were leaving the Crown last year after nine years. The Crown was awarded a Michelin star in 2016 and also won the Good Food Guide Best Pub Restaurant award and Michelin's Welcome & Service Award in 2020.

Bonwick said: “Moving on from the Crown was a natural conclusion for us, as we felt we had told a story and given our all to the very idea of the Crown. Not one hour in our time there had been easy, but so very rewarding for us all. Every ounce of business was fought and grafted for, so when selling up it had to be to the right person. It was imperative they had the credentials to run with the ball and relax into the Crown even more comfortably than we had.

“As chef patron Dominic will run with his family and fabulous reputation most likely exceeding all our previous achievements at the Crown. We wish him and his family all the best. We are sure he will achieve and create with it a very bright future.

“For us Bonwick family we are all enjoying our own creative things, I am open to opportunities and look forward to a continuous role cooking in this trade I love.”

Chapman purchased the leasehold from Bonwick for an undisclosed sum.