Clare Smyth
Clare Smyth | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 6, 1978 Northern Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, Restaurateur |
| Known for | Chef Patron of Core by Clare Smyth, first British woman to earn three Michelin stars |
Clare Smyth (born 6 September 1978) is a chef from Northern Ireland and the Chef Patron of Core by Clare Smyth, a restaurant awarded three Michelin stars since its opening in 2017. Prior to this, she served as Chef Patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay between 2012 and 2016, during which she was honored as Chef of the Year in 2013 and achieved a flawless rating in the 2015 Good Food Guide. Smyth has also made appearances on television programs such as Masterchef and Saturday Kitchen.
In the 2021 Michelin Guide, Core by Clare Smyth was granted three Michelin stars, marking Smyth as the first woman from Northern Ireland to earn this distinction. That same year, she launched her second establishment, Oncore, located in Sydney. Oncore was awarded the esteemed Three Hats accolade in 2022, making Smyth both the first female chef and the second individual overall to hold the combination of three Michelin stars and three AA rosettes. This milestone was showcased during her role as a guest judge on Season 15 of MasterChef Australia.
Early life
Smyth was raised on a farm in County Antrim, being the youngest among three siblings. Her father, William, worked as a farmer while her mother, Doreen, was employed as a waitress.
At age fifteen, Smyth gained experience working at a nearby restaurant during a holiday period, which motivated her to pursue a career in cooking. She left formal education at sixteen to enroll in catering studies at Highbury College in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Culinary career
During her time at culinary school, Smyth completed an apprenticeship at Grayshott Hall in Surrey. She subsequently took up a full-time position at Terence Conran’s restaurant situated within Michelin House in London, followed by six months working with a catering firm in Australia. Upon returning to the UK, she undertook stages at various establishments including The Waterside Inn and Gidleigh Park. Progressing from sous chef to head chef at the St Enodoc Hotel’s restaurant in Rock, Cornwall, she earned recognition as Young Cornish Fish Chef of the Year.
In 2002, Gordon Ramsay recruited Smyth to join Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. By 2007, she had been promoted to head chef there, becoming the first woman in Britain to lead a restaurant holding three Michelin stars. At that period, only seven out of 121 Michelin-starred venues across the UK had female head chefs. After spending time at Alain Ducasse's Le Louis XV in Monaco, she returned to oversee Ramsay’s Chelsea restaurant.
Smyth received the title of 'National Chef of the Year' from the Good Food Guide in 2013 and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to hospitality that same year.
In 2015, she attained a perfect score of ten from the Good Food Guide and subsequently won the Chef Award at the 2016 The Catey Awards, an accolade previously achieved by her mentor Gordon Ramsay in 2000.
2016–2021: Core and Oncore
In 2016, Smyth departed from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay to establish her inaugural independent venture, Core, which opened its doors in London's Notting Hill in July 2017. By April 2018, Core had been honored with the Best Restaurant award at the GQ Food and Drink Awards.
That same year, Smyth received the title of World's Best Female Chef from the World's 50 Best Restaurants and served as a judge on the UK edition of The Final Table season 1.
On 1 October 2018, Core was awarded two Michelin stars in the 2019 Michelin Guide, and it was further elevated to three stars in the 2021 edition. This achievement marked Smyth as the first British woman to earn such recognition.
Early in 2021, Smyth revealed her intention to broaden her reach internationally with Oncore, situated on the 26th floor of the Crown Sydney in Barangaroo. The restaurant officially launched in November 2021, led by head chef Alan Stuart.
Bloomberg acclaimed Oncore as "Sydney's best restaurant." Nevertheless, Smyth was unable to attend the opening due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
2022-present
In May 2025, Smyth collaborated with champagne house Dom Pérignon on the "Creation is an Eternal Journey" campaign, elevating her brand through this prestigious partnership.
Personal life
Smyth lives in Wandsworth alongside her husband, Grant, who is employed in the finance sector.