Grain Store Alumnus to Lead Kitchen at New Pilgrm Hotel in Paddington

The Pilgrm (not a typo) hotel in Paddington, which opens on 1 November, has announced the senior personnel in place for launch. Among them is Sara Lewis — named as head chef and who most recently worked at Bruno Loubet’s now-closed Grain Store in King’s Cross.

Lewis, who is “influenced heavily by her mentor [Loubet]” worked at Grain Store from 2013 until last month (when the restaurant closed) as sous chef. Lewis adopts Loubet's attitude towards sustainability and low-waste, and says she “is inspired by his willingness to embrace wild, inventive ideas in the kitchen.”

At the Pilgrm, Lewis will be lead the kitchen team in the hotel’s Lounge, which will have a bar as well as an open kitchen. The all-day “informal” menu “celebrating food from all over the world” will include dishes such as kimchi rice and tea-poached egg at breakfast; and a mushroom and Dolcelatte cheese toastie in the evening.

Elsewhere, another former employee of Bruno Loubet, Edgard Helle has been named as general manager. Helle has worked in the hospitality business for 21 years, having started as runner at Quaglino’s. In 2009, he moved to The Zetter Hotel to open Bistro Bruno Loubet. Helle has worked with some of the brightest and biggest names in London and the UK: Spanish chef Jose Pizarro, The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel’s Chris Corbin, Peter Gordon at the Providores, Radici’s Francesco Mazzai, Sabrina Ghayour and Raymond Blanc.