Cateys 2023: International Outstanding Achievement: Jason Atherton
Jason Atherton wins the International Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Harri
As well as successful operation on home soil, this chef has opened restaurants across the globe over the years, with his portfolio reaching as far as Shanghai, Dubai, Mykonos and St Moritz.
Jason Atherton's career began working alongside the likes of Pierre Koffmann, Marco Pierre White, Nico Ladenis, Ferran Adrià at el Bulli and, of course, Gordon Ramsay. He joined Gordon Ramsay Group in 2001 as the executive chef for Verre in Dubai and in 2005 returned to the UK and opened Maze.
His international culinary ambitions were fostered while at the Gordon Ramsay Group, being part of opening iterations of the Maze brand in the likes of Prague, Cape Town, Melbourne and Qatar. In 2010 he left the company to launch his own business, Jason Atherton Ltd, with his flagship restaurant Pollen Street Social in London's Mayfair opening in April 2011. It was awarded a Michelin star just six months after opening its doors.
Since then, his Social Company has grown into a globally renowned restaurant group with seven sites in London including the Michelin-starred City Social as well as Social Eating House, the Blind Pig, Little Social, Berners Tavern and Harrods Social, as well as eight critically-acclaimed restaurants across the world.
Atherton won the coveted Chef Award at the 2012 Cateys as well as group Restaurateur of the Year, both for the independent category in 2014 and the group category in 2017, demonstrating how fast his business grew.
Despite his global reach, Atherton is deeply involved in the detail of all his restaurants. His mentor, Pierre Koffmann, has pointed out that as well as his culinary talents he is clearly a good businessman: "He and his wife Ira have created a restaurant group that includes some of the best restaurants in the world."
Atherton has published a number of books and regularly appears on TV in UK favourites including Saturday Kitchen and Great British Menu as well as guest judge in MasterChef Australia. While he is considered a ‘celebrity chef', his business-minded approach to running his global empire is trusting the right people, and at some of his sites in London he offers shares in the business with an opportunity for a future management buyout, giving Atherton a long-term plan to take a step back while supporting the development of his talent.
"One of the things that sets Jason Atherton apart from other chefs is his respect for his peers," adds Koffmann. "He is known for being a team player and for fostering a collaborative environment in his kitchens. He understands that great food is the result of a group effort and works hard to create a positive and supportive atmosphere in his restaurants."
Atherton is always looking at new opportunities abroad, operated as licence agreements, which gives him the time and headspace to focus on his first love – Pollen Street Social. A British chef who has become a recognisable brand across the waters is an impressive achievement, and as Koffmann summarises: "Atherton has achieved great success in his career and has made a significant contribution to the culinary world. He is an inspiration to aspiring chefs and a role model for anyone who wants to succeed in the restaurant industry."
