Marcus Wareing

Marcus Wareing
Marcus Wareing
Born	June 29, 1970 (age 56); Southport, Lancashire, England
Occupation(s)	Chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author
Years active	1988–present
Known for	Michelin-starred restaurants, judge on MasterChef: The Professionals

Marcus Wareing (born 29 June 1970) is a renowned English chef and former proprietor of the Michelin-starred restaurant Marcus, which ceased operations permanently in December 2023. Since 2014, he has been a judge on the television series MasterChef: The Professionals.

Early life

Marcus Wareing was born in 1970 in Southport, Lancashire. His father worked as a fruit and potato supplier to schools. From the age of 11, Wareing assisted in the family business by packing potatoes and helping with deliveries, earning 10p per bag. The rigorous work ethic demonstrated by his father deeply influenced Wareing’s own professional mindset.

While attending Stanley High School, Wareing recognized his aptitude for cooking and subsequently enrolled in a three-year City & Guilds catering programme at Southport College.

Career

Wareing’s culinary journey began in 1988 at the Savoy Hotel, where he worked as a commis chef under the guidance of chef Anton Edelmann. In 1993, he joined Albert Roux at the Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, where he first encountered Gordon Ramsay. After gaining experience in restaurants located in New York City, Amsterdam, and Sussex, Wareing returned to London to become sous chef at Ramsay’s new restaurant, Aubergine. Over a period of fifteen years, Wareing developed a reputation as Ramsay’s protégé. In 1995, he was awarded Young Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association.

Wareing has acknowledged Gordon Ramsay for significantly influencing his culinary style. He briefly collaborated with chefs such as Daniel Boulud in the United States and Guy Savoy in France before returning to the UK to take on the role of head chef at L’Oranger, a restaurant owned by A-Z Restaurants with ownership stakes held by both Wareing and Ramsay. At just 25 years old, he secured his first Michelin star there and provided chef Angela Hartnett with her initial professional opportunity. Following a contractual disagreement, Ramsay departed Aubergine to establish Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, while Wareing left L’Oranger, which temporarily closed. This dispute resulted in legal proceedings that were ultimately resolved through an out-of-court settlement.

In 1999, Wareing was appointed head chef at Pétrus, a restaurant launched by Ramsay’s group at 33 St James's Street, London. The venue swiftly regained its Michelin star and relocated to the Berkeley Hotel in 2003, taking over from Pierre Koffmann's La Tante Claire. That same year, Wareing also became Chef Patron of the Grill Room at the Savoy Hotel and was honoured as Chef of the Year by Caterer and Hotelkeeper's Catey Awards. Under his leadership, Pétrus earned two Michelin stars along with five AA Rosettes; meanwhile, the Savoy Grill received its inaugural Michelin star in 2004.

Wareing expanded his portfolio with an American-style diner named Banquette at The Savoy and opened La Fleur on the former Pétrus site; however, La Fleur later closed due to lease complications. In 2004, he was recognised as Restaurateur of the Year at the Tatler Restaurant Awards and ranked as London’s fourth-best chef by Harden's. Pétrus achieved its second Michelin star in 2007.

In 2008, Wareing assumed full control over Pétrus’ lease at The Berkeley, launching his independent restaurant amid disagreements with Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) regarding kitchen autonomy and brand management. This conflict escalated into a public legal battle that concluded with Ramsay retaining rights to the Pétrus name; Wareing agreed to a confidentiality agreement but continued operating independently under Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley. The restaurant received accolades including Best Restaurant in London by Harden's (2008-09), a Michelin star (2009), and was named Time Out’s restaurant of the year (2010). Subsequently, Ramsay opened a new Pétrus nearby.

Following these developments, Marcus Wareing Restaurants was founded and now encompasses three establishments. In 2009, Wareing was honoured as GQ magazine’s chef of the year. His second restaurant, The Gilbert Scott, opened in 2011 within the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel after winning a competitive bid against GRH. This venue pays tribute to architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. Wareing is known for focusing on seasonal British dishes sourced from small-scale suppliers.

In 2014, after refurbishing Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley—renamed Marcus—he launched Tredwells on Upper St Martin's Lane alongside Group Operations Director Chantelle Nicholson, who became Chef Patron in 2016 and assumed full ownership in 2020. In 2021, Wareing announced the closure of The Gilbert Scott after its ten-year lease ended. In September 2023, he revealed that Marcus would permanently close at year-end; its final service took place on 26 December.

Television and other media

Wareing made his television debut as sous chef to Ramsay on Channel 4’s documentary series Boiling Point in 1999. The sequel series Beyond Boiling Point (2000) followed his transition to Pétrus and attainment of his first Michelin star. In 2003, he participated among chefs recreating Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

In 2006, Wareing competed on BBC’s Great British Menu, winning the opportunity to prepare food for Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday banquet. He has since served as a judge on multiple seasons, occasionally engaging in disputes with contestants such as Johnnie Mountain. While critical of programmes like MasterChef for prioritising celebrity over culinary expertise, he has appeared on various editions of MasterChef.

After Michel Roux Jr. departed as judge on MasterChef: The Professionals, Wareing took over this role from 2014 onward.

He has authored nine cookbooks; prominent titles include Marcus at Home (2016), which remained on The Sunday Times bestseller list for five weeks, followed by New Classics (2017), Marcus Everyday (2019), and Marcus' Kitchen (2021).

In collaboration with Compass Group UK & Ireland in 2021, Wareing launched Forward with Marcus Wareing—a culinary apprenticeship scheme.

His BBC Two series Marcus Wareing's Tales from a Kitchen Garden premiered in 2022 and returned for a second season in 2023, featuring his East Sussex smallholding and visits to British food producers.

December 2023 saw the broadcast of Marcus Wareing At Christmas, a ten-part festive cooking series on Food Network.

In March 2024, BBC commissioned Marcus Wareing Simply Provence, which aired on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer in May 2024.

Personal life

Brian Wareing, Marcus's brother, is involved in catering education. Marcus is married to Jane; they have three children named Jake, Archie, and Jessie. The couple met while working at Gravetye Manor—Marcus as second chef and Jane in reception. Upon relocating to London to work with Ramsay at Aubergine, he maintained their relationship through weekly commutes to Sussex every Sunday. Gordon Ramsay served as best man at their wedding in 2000 and is godfather to their eldest son Jake.

Wareing supports charitable causes including Action Against Hunger through participation in events like Taste of London. In addition, he took part in a white-collar boxing match in 2012 benefiting the Hilton in the Community Foundation—drawing upon his background as an amateur boxer—and has endorsed sustainable fishing initiatives led by the Environmental Justice Foundation. He cites chef Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park as an inspiration.

Published works

How to Cook the Perfect... (2007, Dorling Kindersley)
Knife Skills (2008, Dorling Kindersley)
One Perfect Ingredient, Three Ways to Cook It (2008, Bantam)
Nutmeg and Custard (2009, Bantam)
The Gilbert Scott Book of British Food (2013, Bantam)
Marcus at Home (2016, HarperCollins)
New Classics (2017, HarperCollins)
Marcus Everyday (2019, HarperCollins)
Marcus' Kitchen (2021, HarperCollins)
Marcus' France (2024, HarperCollins)

External links