April Lily Partridge, the 2023 Roux Scholarship winner, has departed from the Ledbury in London to pursue her 'next chapter.'
The former sous chef at the three Michelin-starred restaurant shared the news on Instagram.
She said: “The Ledbury – a huge chapter in my life and my career. I’ve grown a lot from the chef and person that first walked through the doors all those years ago and I’m proud to have been a small part of the Ledbury story.
“I’ve worked with incredible chefs who have become friends for life, learnt life lessons and leave a stronger cook than when I first began. Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way, most importantly Bretto [Brett Graham], who taught me not just about how to cook with heart, but how important it is to be a good person, to care about suppliers, to go the extra mile with hospitality, and to be kind even when things are tough.”
She added: “No one has impacted me more in my career than him and I hope to take the Ledbury spirit with me along the rest of my life. Here’s to the next chapter. It’s been one hell of a journey.”
Partridge is also a past winner of the Springboard FutureChef competition and received a 2022 Acorn Award.
Throughout her career, Partridge has worked at notable establishments such as The Ivy in London’s West End, The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 in Padstow, The Clove Club, and Alyn Williams at The Westbury. She joined The Ledbury just before the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
In April 2023, Partridge won the prestigious Roux Scholarship on her first attempt, becoming only the second female chef to achieve this honor in the competition's history.
Partridge also contributed to the Ledbury's success in achieving three Michelin stars earlier this year as part of the team.