IHG has confirmed celeb chef Jason Atherton will open his first restaurant in the Middle East at the InterContinental Dubai Marina, seven months after Caterer Middle East revealed he was eyeing a venue in Dubai.
No stranger to the Middle East, Atherton served as executive chef of Gordon Ramsay’s Verre in 2001.
Atherton said: “The Marina has transformed by leaps and bounds since I last lived here 10 years ago, and it's exciting to be a part of the area's vibrant culinary scene. I’m looking forward to working with InterContinental Hotels and Resorts and being a part of their repertoire of world-class signature restaurants.”
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IHG vice president of food & beverage Asia, Middle East and Africa said: "We place a high emphasis on working with the best culinary talent in the industry and are confident that our collaboration with Jason will take Dubai by storm." A spokesman for Select Group, owners of the hotel, said being able to put IHG and Jason Atherton together is something it is very proud of.
Part of the Bay Central development, InterContinental Dubai Marina is set to open by the end of 2014. It will feature 132 hotel rooms, 196 InterContinental Residential Suites and seven additional food and beverage outlets, including restaurants, bars and a 600m2 night club. Guests will also enjoy an InterContinental spa, health club and outdoor swimming pool and pool deck. For the business traveller the hotel will offer a suite of facilities, including a boardroom and eight meeting rooms, the largest of which will accommodate 100 people.
InterContinental Dubai Marina will be the fourth InterContinental hotel in the UAE, joining InterContinental Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Dubai Festival City. IHG currently has 18 hotels open in the UAE and seven in the development pipeline.
IHG vice president of operations UAE, Near East and Africa Ignace Bauwens added: “In the three years since opening his first restaurant, Jason Atherton has become renowned for his simple yet elegant spaces, a quality which chimes perfectly with the InterContinental brand. It is a privilege to be the one to bring this remarkable talent back to Dubai.”
The celeb chef gained worldwide recognition in 2011 when his flagship London restaurant, Pollen Street Social, was awarded a Michelin star just one year after opening its doors. His international culinary reach includes highly acclaimed restaurants in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.
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