Muse by Tom Aikens head chef leaves after five years

Seamus Sam has left his role as head chef of the Michelin-starred Muse by Tom Aikens after five years at the restaurant.

He will now take on an acting head chef position at the Michelin-starred Evelyn’s Table in London’s Soho.

Sam has worked with Tom Aikens for almost half of his career, having first met each other in 2012 at Restaurant Tom Aikens.

He has also been senior chef de partie at the Clove Club in London’s Shoreditch and sous chef at Restaurant Story in London Bridge.

Aikens posted the news on Instagram, commenting: “A lot of happy memories & fun times with @seamussam at @musebytomaikens we are sad to see him go, but he is flying the nest to stand on his own two feet.

“He has been an amazing head chef & leader, & grown in stature & strength over the last 5 years. Gained confidence & believe it or not a bit more patience… We wish him all the very best in his next position as acting head chef, I know he will hit the ground running that’s for sure. Always hard to see talent leave but It’s his next chapter & story now.”

Sam added: “I am the last of the opening team to leave @musebytomaikens and I can’t thank Tom enough for giving me my first head chef job and the opportunity to help create such a special restaurant.

“Thank you to all the suppliers, customers and staff, past and present. Special mention to @joebrackenbury who was an amazing sous chef for the first four years.”

Sam takes over from James Goodyear, who joined Evelyn’s Table as head chef in January 2023.

Goodyear announced his departure from the restaurant earlier this summer, commenting: “A big thank you to everyone who has been a part of the journey along the way and I wish the whole team at Evelyn’s Table all the best moving forwards. So excited and lucky to be moving onto the most amazing new chapter.”

Evelyn’s Table opened in 2020 and is located in the original beer cellar of Layo and Zoë Paskin’s Blue Posts pub on Rupert Street in London’s Soho. It seats just 12 diners around a chef’s table and won a Michelin star in 2022.