Tom Aikens

Tom Aikens
Tom Aikens
Born	1970; Norwich, England
Occupation(s)	Chef, restaurateur, television personality
Years active	1990s–present
Known for	Michelin-starred restaurants, television appearances on Great British Menu

Tom Aikens (born in 1970), sometimes referred to as Tom Aitkens, is a celebrated English chef distinguished by Michelin stars. Early in his professional journey, he gained experience working in notable restaurants across London and Paris. Between 1996 and 1999, he served as head chef and subsequently chef patron at Pied à Terre, where the establishment was awarded two Michelin stars in January 1997.

Currently, Aikens manages the Michelin-starred London venue Muse, which opened its doors in January 2020, alongside three dining outlets situated within hotels in Abu Dhabi. His television appearances include participation on Great British Menu, initially competing and later returning as an experienced judge.

Early life and education

Born prematurely in Norwich in 1970 into a family involved in the wine trade, Aikens has a twin brother named Robert, who also pursued a culinary career. Spending two months in an incubator after birth, Tom and his brother began their formal education in hospitality at age 16 by enrolling at the Hotel School of City College Norwich. Tom completed a two-year Advanced Catering Diploma there in 1989.

Early cooking career and Pied à Terre

Aikens started his culinary path at the prestigious three-Michelin-star establishment La Tante Claire under the mentorship of Pierre Koffman. In 1993, he joined London's Pied à Terre as a sous-chef. His career also included time working for Joël Robuchon in Paris before returning to Pied à Terre in 1996 to assume the role of head chef. As chef patron and co-owner, he guided Pied à Terre to achieve two Michelin stars by January 1997, becoming the youngest chef to do so since Harveys under Marco Pierre White in 1990.

Following an incident in December 1999 involving a burn injury to a junior chef, Aikens was advised by the restaurant's board to take a hiatus. However, he opted to leave Pied à Terre altogether to pursue his own business plans—a decision made independently of that event. His departure saw sous-chef Shane Osborne promoted to head chef, while Aikens’s then-wife Laura Vanninen stepped down from her role as assistant manager.

After leaving Pied à Terre, Aikens reunited with Pierre Koffman at La Tante Claire for nine months before moving on to serve as a private chef for prominent clients such as Anthony Bamford and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

First eponymous restaurant

In April 2003, Aikens launched his self-titled restaurant Tom Aikens at 43 Elystan Street in Chelsea, occupying a former pub location. He co-owned this venture with then-wife Laura Vanninen. By January 2004, the restaurant had earned four AA rosettes along with its initial Michelin star. It secured a second Michelin star in January 2008. After closing temporarily for renovations from July 2011 until January 2012, it lost both stars but regained one by late 2012. The establishment ultimately closed permanently in January 2014 and lost its Michelin star by September of that year.

Tom's Kitchen

On 2 November 2006, Aikens introduced Tom's Kitchen on Cale Street near his main restaurant. Unlike his fine dining venue, Tom's Kitchen operated as a gastropub. Ollie Couillaud, previously head chef at La Trompette in Chiswick, led the kitchen until May 2007.

The Tom Aikens Group expanded Tom's Kitchen with additional branches opening at Canary Wharf in June 2013 and Mailbox Birmingham in December 2016; however, both locations ceased operations on 30 May 2019. The original Chelsea site followed suit on 2 January 2020, citing difficult market conditions and staffing challenges. Currently, no Tom's Kitchen outlets remain open.

Other restaurant groups

In October 2008, Tom Aikens's enterprises T&L Ltd and Tom Aikens Ltd, encumbered by debts amounting to £3 million, entered property administration. Subsequently, he transferred ownership of his last two restaurants to TA Holdco Ltd, controlled by Peter Dubens and David Till, which resulted in numerous suppliers remaining unpaid. By March 2011, Istanbul Doors Restaurant Group had purchased an 80% share in Aikens's restaurant ventures, with Aikens retaining a minority 20% stake.

Other eateries

Aikens launched a fish-and-chip establishment called Tom's Place in February 2008; however, it ceased operations by August the same year due to financial difficulties and unfavorable reactions to its pricing. The head chef at this venue was Yves Girard.

On 11 January 2020, Aikens inaugurated Muse, an intimate fine dining venue seating 25 guests in Belgravia, marking his return to haute cuisine after a six-year hiatus. Muse was awarded its inaugural Michelin star in January 2021.

As of January 2020, Aikens oversees three dining outlets located within The Abu Dhabi Edition hotel.

Television

In 1998, Aikens featured on "Great Chefs of the World," presenting a starter dish at Pied à Terre. His namesake restaurant was showcased in the BBC series Trouble at the Top in 2004. He also appeared on Saturday Kitchen in 2006 and took part as a contestant on Iron Chef UK in 2010.

During the sixth season of Great British Menu (2011), Aikens was defeated by Tom Kerridge. In the eighth season (2013), he presented his winning dish at the Comic Relief banquet held at the Royal Albert Hall. He subsequently returned as an experienced judge and competed again during the show's 2020 Christmas special.

Accolades

Aikens received the Newcomer of the Year award at the 2004 Catey Awards for his eponymous restaurant and was honored with the New 5 Rosette Award at the 2007–2008 AA Hospitality Awards.

Recognized among the top 100 most influential figures in UK hospitality by The Caterer, Aikens ranked 71st in 2005, fell to 97th in 2006, rose to 94th in 2010, and stood at 89th place in 2011.

Throughout his career, Aikens has been awarded up to two Michelin stars; he currently holds one for Muse in Belgravia. In 2024, he earned the prestigious AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year accolade.

Personal life

Aikens was married to his business associate Laura Vanninen from 1997 until 2004, a period that closely followed the opening of his inaugural self-titled restaurant. His subsequent marriage to Amber Nuttall, who is the daughter of engineer Nicholas Nuttall, lasted from June 2007 to November 2010.

In the summer of 2018, Aikens wed Justine Dobbs-Higginson, a former banker at Goldman Sachs and his partner for nine years, in Corsica. Together, they have two daughters.

Bibliography

Cooking, 2006 (eBook: )
Fish, 2008 (; eBook: )
Easy, 2011 ()
5 Minute Feast, a charity cookbook for Only a Pavement Away, published on 28 July 2021

External links

Official website
Tom Aikens and Tom's Kitchen – London England at GreatChefs.com
Archived Tom's Kitchen website