Alex Payne named head chef at Crockers Henley

Alex Payne has been named head chef at the Crockers Henley restaurant in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.

The 29-year-old, who appeared on the 2018 series of MasterChef: The Professionals, will head up the 16-seat Thames Chef’s Table experience.

Payne’s CV includes stints as chef de partie at Gordon Ramsay at the Savoy and at the Hind's Head in Bray, and a junior sous chef role at Matt Worswick at the Latymer.

Crockers will be his first head chef role, where he will serve a modern British tasting menu with dishes including Porthilly oyster, ginger and Rebellion beer; and barbecued British hispi cabbage; and snacks such as smoked chicken liver parfait and Cumberland gel.

Crockers Henley opened in 2020 and is the brainchild of former chef Luke Garnsworthy. Situated in a converted townhouse, it features seven boutique bedrooms, two 16-seat chef's tables, a robatayaki grill and a bar.

The restaurant is reopening for outdoor dining on 12 April with the chef’s tables and rooms taking bookings from 17 May.

A sister restaurant, Crockers Tring, launched in spring 2018.