A rising culinary star forging a reputation in the industry for his creative use of classic ingredients has been promoted to Executive Sous Chef at one of Chester’s most reputable hotels following the successful relaunch of its refined dining experience.
Sam Griffiths, who secured the title of ‘National Chef of Wales’ in 2021, now works closely alongside Executive Chef, Elliot Hill and Head Chef of 17 years Raymond Booker. at The Chester Grosvenor’s refined dining restaurant, Arkle. Together, they have hand-crafted a tasting menu that showcases an array of top-quality ingredients and the combined calibre of their culinary abilities.
Since joining The Chester Grosvenor in 2016 as Demi Chef de Partie, Sam has swiftly risen through the ranks, earning the role of Senior Sous Chef within the restaurant when it was Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor by April 2019.
Sam has become a well-respected figure within the restaurant team and will now be looking to lend his experience and expertise to others as part of his new role. His calming nature and eye for perfection were key ingredients for the successful relaunch of Arkle — which saw them serve more than 1500 covers in just three months.
Following his accreditation as ‘National Chef of Wales’ last year, Sam recently went on to represent Wales at this year’s Global Chefs Challenge in Abu Dhabi, where he showcased his talent on the global stage. Despite not winning, this was an insightful experience that opened Sam’s eyes to what it takes to be the very best — not a far cry from his current capabilities.
Commenting on his promotion, Sam said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be embarking on the next chapter of my culinary journey. Working with the talented team at Arkle is a privilege and the amount of talent within our ranks is truly inspiring.
'As Executive Sous Chef, I will look to ensure that the standard of service is impeccable each and every day and will be working closely alongside Elliot — who has put his faith in me from the moment he arrived at The Chester Grosvenor.
'Together, we have clear ambitions of firmly placing Arkle on the culinary map and want to push ourselves and the team to produce the best food we possibly can.”
Sam is deeply passionate about cooking, so much so that during the pandemic, when hospitality was forced to shut down, he ran a cook-at-home business delivering delicious meals to people's homes, for them to simply put into the oven.
Commenting on Sam’s progress, Executive Chef, Elliot Hill, added, “Sam is one of those chefs that have a genuine passion for what they do - and this is evident in the food he produces.
'When we relaunched Arkle, it was a very busy time for the team, however, Sam’s calming presence was crucial to our success and he has become a true role model for the junior members of our team.
' I am excited to see what the future has in store for Arkle and with Sam at my side, I am confident we are set for great things.”
With the existing building dating back to 1865, The Chester Grosvenor is home to two highly reputable restaurants — the relaxed two AA Rosette La Brasserie, which offers all-day casual and à la carte dining, and its refined dining restaurant, Arkle.
Elliot, Sam and their talented team are responsible for producing some of Chester’s most reputable cuisine and their adventurous style is forging a strong reputation for the hotel's food and beverage offering.