Former colleagues pay tribute to Gary Rhodes at celebratory gathering

Friends and colleagues of Gary Rhodes have met for a memorial to the chef who died in 2019.

Hosted by the Stratford hotel executive chef Adam Gray, a long time colleague of Rhodes, the event provided an opportunity to share tributes to a chef credited with spearheading the 1990s revival of traditional British cuisine.

Rhodes's wife Jennie and two sons, Sam and George, attended the memorial, alongside many former colleagues who worked at Rhodes 24 in London.

Sam said: "I know that he would be proud of every single person here. He cared about every single person he came into contact with and that includes you all."

Gray, who worked with Rhodes for 13 years at City Rhodes and Rhodes 24, added: "He was a phenomenal guy, a legend in the industry. However long you worked for him, whatever you did, whether it be a receptionist, pastry chef, chef, or sommelier we had a vision and a goal. It was perfection and consistency.

"We are all part of the Rhodes family and had some amazing times."

Rhodes died after collapsing at his home in Dubai in November 2019.

A restaurateur, chef, television celebrity and author of 18 cookery books, Rhodes was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2006.

He was head chef at the Castle hotel in Taunton, Somerset, at the age of 26, retaining the hotel's Michelin. In 1988 he was awarded The Caterer's Acorn Award for rising stars under the age of 30, the same year as chefs Nick Nairn and Bruno Loubet.

Rhodes went on to win a Michelin star at the Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair, before opening City Rhodes and Rhodes in the Square with Sodexo and then Rhodes 24 at Tower 42 and Rhodes W1 with Compass.

He moved to Dubai in 2011 and operated restaurants in Marriott hotels including Rhodes W1 at the Grosvenor House hotel and Rhodes Twenty10 at the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa.