Carl Riley replaces Niall Keating at Lunar restaurant

Carl Riley has been named head chef of Lunar restaurant in Staffordshire following the departure of Niall Keating.

Under Keating’s guidance, Lunar earned a recommendation in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2024. The restaurant won a Michelin green star for sustainability in 2021, the same year that it opened, but no longer holds the award.

Riley will introduce new menus with a focus on quality and “value for money” at the restaurant, which is located at the World of Wedgwood visitor attraction.

The chef studied at catering school and the University of Derby in Buxton prior to working at Middlethorpe Hall in York and Artisan of Sheffield.

He then worked with chefs like Les Rennie and Steven Cross and received accolades such as a Bib Gourmand and three-AA-rosettes with the rest of his team.

At Lunar, Riley has committed to cooking sustainable ingredients with “bold flavours and technical flair”.

He will offer a sharing small plates menu alongside a new set menu, the Plat Du Jour, starting at £36 for two courses.

The restaurant will continue to offer the multi-course Lunar Experience Menu at a reduced cost.

Craig Wilkinson, director of Lunar, said: “Lunar offers a unique experience that Staffordshire can take pride in, featuring modern dining on beautiful Wedgwood tableware and drinks served in Waterford Crystal glassware.

“Moving forward, we present carefully crafted menus by our exceptionally talented local head chef, Carl Riley, ensuring our guests receive quality and choice while we continue to build on our past successes.”

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