Jason Atherton

Jason Atherton
Jason Atherton
Born	September 6, 1971 (age 55); Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Occupation(s)	Chef, restaurateur, television presenter
Years active	2000–present
Known for	Pollen Street Social, Maze (restaurant), My Kitchen Rules (TV show)

Jason Atherton (born 6 September 1971) is a renowned English chef and restaurateur. His premier establishment, Pollen Street Social, was awarded a Michelin Star in its debut year, 2011, maintaining this distinction until its closure in 2024. Prior to this, he held the position of Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay's Michelin-starred Maze in London, departing in April 2010. Additionally, in 2014, he co-presented the Sky Living TV show My Kitchen Rules.

Early life and education

Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Atherton is the son of a hotel owner and a vulcaniser. He relocated to London at the age of 16. Following his studies at Boston College, Lincolnshire, he undertook a six-week stint with the Army Catering Corps, an experience he did not enjoy.

Career

Throughout his career, Jason Atherton has collaborated with distinguished chefs such as Pierre Koffmann, Nico Ladenis, and Marco Pierre White. In 2001, he became executive chef at Verre in Dubai under the Gordon Ramsay Group. Four years later, he returned to the UK to launch Maze.

In November 2007, Atherton partnered with Gordon Ramsay to introduce Maze at the Hilton Prague Old Town. By April 2008, Maze Grill opened alongside Maze in Grosvenor Square. The Maze brand further expanded in 2009 to Cape Town’s One and Only Hotel, as well as locations in Melbourne and Qatar.

Leaving Gordon Ramsay Holdings in 2010, Atherton founded his own enterprise, The Social Company. His inaugural solo project was Table No. 1 at the Waterhouse at South Bund hotel in Shanghai (May 2010). His flagship venue, Pollen Street Social, launched in Mayfair in April 2011 and quickly garnered a Michelin star. It achieved high rankings—number six in The Good Food Guide's Top 50 Restaurants (2013 & 2014) and third place in 2016. The restaurant received numerous honors including London's best new fine dining restaurant (Time Out Eating & Drinking Awards 2011), New Restaurant of the Year (Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2012), and BMW Square Meal Restaurant of the Year 2011. In 2014, it was named Food and Travel Magazine's "Restaurant of the Year - UK," while Atherton earned Restaurateur of the Year at the Catey Awards. After 13 successful years, Pollen Street Social closed its doors in 2024.

Between 2011 and 2012, Atherton broadened his presence in Asia by opening Esquina (a tapas bar) and The Study (a British-style café) in Singapore, as well as 22 Ships in Hong Kong alongside Yenn Wong of JIA Group.

In 2013, two London establishments were added: Little Social, a French brasserie located opposite his flagship restaurant, and Social Eating House, offering casual modern British cuisine on Soho's Poland Street. That year also saw the launch of The Commune Social in Shanghai with Chef Scott Melvin and Ham & Sherry, his second venue in Hong Kong. Later in the year, Berners Tavern debuted within London’s EDITION hotel.

The following year brought City Social to Tower 42, London—earning a Michelin star within six months—and Aberdeen Street Social in Hong Kong. City Social lost its Michelin star status with the release of the 2025 guide.

In 2015, Atherton opened The Clocktower at New York’s EDITION hotel situated inside the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Building. This was followed by Social Wine & Tapas in London’s Marylebone, combining a relaxed tapas bar with a wine shop. September saw the debut of Marina Social inside Dubai’s Intercontinental Dubai Marina hotel.

June 2016 marked Atherton’s first restaurant venture in Cebu, Philippines: The Pig and Palm. This intimate 70-seat location was designed by architect Lyndon Neri and reflects a personal link through his wife’s Cebu origins. Later that same year he introduced Temple and Sons in London.

In collaboration once again with JIA Group, Atherton opened Duddell's London near St Thomas Church by London Bridge in 2017.

Atherton’s culinary creations and writings have been widely published across media outlets such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Observer Food Monthly, Waitrose Food Illustrated, and Caterer and Hotelkeeper.

Books

Maze: The Cookbook, published by Quadrille Publishing Ltd; hardcover edition (18 April 2008)
Gourmet Food for a Fiver, released by Quadrille Publishing Ltd (16 April 2010)
Social Suppers, issued by Absolute Press (19 June 2014)
Social Sweets, published by Absolute Press (18 June 2015)
Pollen Street, brought out by Absolute Press (15 November 2018)

Television

Atherton frequently appears as a guest on BBC One's Saturday Kitchen, where he joins host James Martin.

In 2008, he triumphed in the London and Southeast regional round of the BBC Two show Great British Menu, judged by Oliver Peyton, Prue Leith, and Matthew Fort. He secured victories in both the starter and main course categories through a public vote, with the winning meal served at The Gherkin and hosted by Heston Blumenthal.

Atherton co-presented the UK edition of My Kitchen Rules alongside Lorraine Pascale on Sky Living HD in 2014.

He appeared as a guest judge on the eighth series of MasterChef Australia in 2016, where he challenged contestants to replicate one of his award-winning dishes.

In 2019, Atherton fronted BBC's The Chef's Brigade, mentoring a group of culinary novices to compete against Europe's elite restaurants.

On 15 July 2023, Jason Atherton's Dubai Dishes, a ten-episode cooking series, debuted on ITV1. The program showcases Atherton preparing his favorite recipes from Dubai and the U.A.E., alongside dishes crafted by some of Dubai's top chefs.

Awards

2000: Recipient of the "Acorn Award" from The Caterer
2000: Winner of the "Young Guns Food Award" presented by the Daily Express
2001: Honored as "Best Chef of the Middle East" by Time Out Dubai
2006: Named "Man of the Year" by Arena
2008: Awarded "London's Outstanding Chef" by the Evening Standard
2012: Received the "Chef Award" at the Catey Awards
2013: Titled "Chef of the Year" at the GQ Awards
2014: Earned "Restaurateur of the Year" at the Catey Awards

Personal life

Atherton lives in southwest London with his wife Irha, who is Filipino, and their three daughters.

External links