Celeb chef Gary Rhodes to launch Abu Dhabi venue

Michelin-starred celebrity chef Gary Rhodes is to launch his first restaurant in Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of this year, adding to his existing two ventures in neighbouring Dubai.

Rhodes 44 will be located in the St Regis hotel, located on the city’s corniche, adding to the clutch of celebrity-branded restaurants dotted across the Gulf country.

UK-born Rhodes, often referred to as 'the chef's chef', shot to fame during his appearances on television series such as MasterChef, MasterChef USA, and Hell's Kitchen.

His two Dubai restaurants, Rhodes Mezzanine at Grosvenor House and Rhodes Twenty10 at Le Royal Méridien, have proved popular with both residents and tourists.

The UAE already plays host to restaurants branded by chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Marco Pierre White, who have moved to capitalise on the Gulf state’s booming hospitality market.

British TV chef James Martin has also hinted at plans for his own bistro, with his most recent proposal including a bakery in Dubai.

Gordon Ramsay ended his deal with the Hilton Dubai Creek last October, leading to the closure of Verre, his first overseas restaurant.

Ramsay, whose global restaurant empire includes outlets in Qatar, the US and Japan, was linked to the restaurant for more than a decade. The venue has since been rebranded as Table 9, and is run by Ramsay’s former associates Scott Price and Nick Alvis.