The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences has named Kevin Fawkes as its new Executive Chef. With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Fawkes brings a wealth of expertise to the role.
After graduating from Westminster College in London, Kevin Fawkes began his culinary journey in 2001 as a Sous Chef at the renowned five-star hotel, The Savoy.
He continued to build his career at a variety of prestigious luxury establishments worldwide, including Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant empire, Rosewood Hotel & Resort in Saudi Arabia, The Nai Harn in Thailand, and the flagship of the Soneva Group, Soneva Fushi, in the Maldives.
In addition to his exceptional culinary talents, Fawkes was recruited by the Soneva team for his dedication to sustainability, where he developed a unique zero-waste menu. Most recently, he served as Executive Chef at Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, before returning to London in September 2024 to assume his new role at the prestigious Mayfair venue, The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences.
Regarding his recent appointment, Fawkes said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be taking on the role of Executive Chef at The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences.
“After many years of cooking around the globe, London has always been a firm favourite of mine so the opportunity to return and work in a venue with such a collaborative and harmonious atmosphere is extremely exciting.”
James Brackley, Food and Beverage Manager at The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences, said: “We’re thrilled to have Kevin join The Athenaeum family, heading up the kitchen team here at the hotel. Bringing with him a copious amount of experience and expertise, we’re looking forward to both continuing and elevating our current F&B offering.”
In addition to his day-to-day career, Fawkes has been actively involved in various chef consultancy projects, focusing on training kitchen teams and enhancing overall kitchen strategy. His work has extended to establishments such as Le Bouchon Restaurant in Bangkok and the Glass Blowing House Restaurant in Plymouth.
Fawkes also played a pivotal role within the Soneva brand, where he designed and launched the handmade cheese and charcuterie studio, offering guests a fun and interactive culinary experience. In 2013, he introduced the Artisan Butchery and Cheese Making Programme and contributed to the concept team for 'Once Upon a Table,' a culinary theatre experience featuring some of the most renowned names in fine dining. His exceptional skills were further recognised when he won the Iron Chef Thailand competition in both 2013 and 2015.