Kevin Bonello named executive chef of the Grand

Kevin Bonello has been appointed executive chef of the Grand, York.

The former culinary director of Michelin-starred restaurant De Mondion in Mdina, Malta, will be joining Ahmed Abdalla, head chef of the hotel’s signature restaurant Legacy and Marc Williams, chef director of the Cookery School at the Grand.

Before taking on the role of culinary director at Xara Collection (which De Mondion is a part of) for 21 years, Bonello started his career as an apprentice chef at Ristorante Cosmana Navarra in Rabat, Malta, as well as being a trainee at the Berkeley hotel in London.

He said: “I am thrilled to be a part of the continued success of this iconic hotel and lead the culinary team to new heights. The Grand’s commitment to showcasing the best produce in the region, alongside the talented individuals already pushing the quality of food, really excites me.”

Simon Mahon, general manager at the Grand, added: “The Grand is becoming a destination for dining excellence, and Kevin’s appointment is the final piece of the puzzle. His addition to our already strong culinary team is putting The Grand on the map, not just in York, but to the wider UK food scene, and with Kevin’s previous Michelin Star, we have high hopes for his time at the Grand.”

The Grand, York, is part of Splendid Hospitality Group, which consists of 24 hotels owned and directed by Shiraz and Nadeem Boghani.