The Scarlet Hotel at Mawgan Porth in Cornwall has appointed Chris Whitmore as its new head chef, replacing Jack Clayton in the role.

With experience in fine dining, including roles at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze and Jason Atherton’s The Social Group, Whitmore has worked across restaurants in London, Hong Kong, and Qatar.

Following a few years away from the kitchen to pursue his own market and garden and food forest, growing sustainable produce for local restaurants, he will now work alongside the Scarlet’s head of food, Tom Hunter, to create new menus across breakfast, lunch and dinner through to afternoon tea.

Hunter said: “We’re excited to welcome Chris to the team. His appointment is less about a new direction and more about how closely he aligns with our ethos, and how he can bring that to life through his food.”

Whitmore added: “I’m delighted to be joining Scarlet and to be working with such exceptional local ingredients and suppliers. The changing seasons will be at the heart of everything we create, from relaxed lunches and afternoon teas through to our evening tasting menu.

“This is a particularly exciting time to be coming on board, with an abundance of wonderful produce. I’m particularly loving the tomatoes available presently. If I had to name one must-try dish from the summer menu it would be the lamb, broad beans, gem lettuce, sheep’s cheese gnocchi and onion puree. I’m very much looking forward to welcoming hotel guests and non-residents to our beautiful sea view dining room.”

The menus will hold an environmental focus, with nearly everything reused and very little thrown away, from sustainably caught seafood to slow-aged steaks and locally grown vegetables.