Gary Rhodes' family confirms chef died from a bleed on the brain after collapsing at home

Gary Rhodes' family has confirmed the chef died from a bleed on the brain after collapsing at his home in Dubai.

 

A statement was issued this afternoon as tributes to the 59-year-old continue to pour in from across the hospitality industry.

 

The family said: “In order to end painful speculation surrounding the sudden passing of our beloved Gary Rhodes OBE, the Rhodes family can confirm that after a successful day shooting with Rock Oyster Media for ITV here in Dubai, Gary returned home in a very happy mood for a peaceful evening with his wife Jennie.

 

"After dinner, Gary unfortunately collapsed in their residence and was rushed to hospital but unfortunately passed away due to subdural hematoma. At this time, there are no other details and the family would again request privacy around this very tragic loss and again, thank friends and family for their ongoing support at this time.”

 

A restaurateur, chef, television celebrity and author of 18 cookery books, Rhodes spearheaded the 1990s revival of traditional British cuisine.

 

In 1986 he became head chef at the Castle hotel in Taunton, Somerset, where he developed his passion for British food under managing director Kit Chapman and retained the hotel's Michelin star at the age of 26. In 1988 he was awarded The Caterer's Acorn Award for rising stars under the age of 30, the same year as chefs Nick Nairn and Bruno Loubet.

 

In 1990 he returned to London as head chef of the Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair, which won its first Michelin star in 1996 - the same year he won the Cateys Special Award.

 

1997 saw the first fruits of a six-year relationship with contract caterer Sodexo (then called Gardner Merchant). Together they launched two fine-dining restaurants, City Rhodes and Rhodes in the Square, as well as two brasseries called Rhodes & Co.

 

The partnership with Sodexo was dissolved in 2003. The same year Rhodes linked up with Compass Group's fine-dining arm, Restaurant Associates, to launch Rhodes 24 at Tower 42, London's tallest building, again winning a Michelin star in 2005. Another star followed in 2008 for the Restaurant Associates-owned Rhodes W1 at the Cumberland hotel.

 

In 2004 Rhodes opened his first overseas restaurant, at the Calabash hotel in the Caribbean, the following year adding Arcadian Rhodes, his first ocean-going restaurant.

 

Rhodes was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2006.

 

He made his Irish debut in July 2006 with Rhodes D7, before opening in Dubai, with Rhodes Mezzanine, in 2007; D7 closed in January 2009.

 

From 2008 until 2010 he also operated two restaurants on the south coast: King Rhodes and Rhodes South, both in Christchurch, Dorset.

 

Rhodes moved to Dubai in 2011 and in more recent years served as a Roux Scholarship judge; launched ThEATre by Rhodes in partnership with Vox Cinemas; and operated restaurants in Marriott hotels in Dubai including Rhodes W1 at the Grosvenor House hotel and Rhodes Twenty10 at the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa.

 

The chef also had a fruitful television career fronting shows such as MasterChef, Hell's Kitchen and his own series, Rhodes Around Britain.