Angela Hartnett, one of Gordon Ramsay’s most successful students of gastronomy, has severed her employment with her mentor by buying out the Mayfair Murano restaurant that she runs.
The Michelin starred chef stated that she had reached a stage in her life where she wanted to own a restaurant outright and wanted naturally for “Murano to have my name above the door”.
The deal is amicable and was completed on Friday after five months of planning. 42 year old Hartnett, who worked with Ramsay since 1994, follows Marcus Wareing, Jason Atherton and Mark Sargeant in branching out alone.
The acquisition will be seen by many as the end of an era for Ramsay, who still has Petrus, Claridges and Maze in his London fine-dining empire. The Savoy Grill returns next month as well as a new City restaurant planed to open early next year.
Hartnett initially worked with Ramsay in his debut London restaurant Aubergine, referred to by some as ‘Vietnam’ because of its high attrition rate, where she was given an initial one day trial.
Hartnett, probably Britain’s best known woman restaurateur, made her name as Chef Patron at the Connaught, where she won her first Michelin star, from 2003 to 2007.
Murano, an Italian restaurant in Queen Street, opened in August 2008 and has been profitable every month since September of that year.
Hartnett said she bought out the 85 per cent holding in Murano she did not already own from Gordon Ramsay Holdings, with the help of backing from friends, relatives and a bank loan. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Ramsay commented,” Angela has been a trusted colleague and a great friend for many years, I was pleased to be able to help her branch out on her own.”