The Grand in York appoints new executive head chef

Splendid hospitality group has announced the appointment of Kevin Bonello as executive head chef of five-star hotel The Grand, York. With a culinary background spanning over two decades, including as culinary director at Michelin-starred restaurant De Mondion, Bonello brings a wealth of expertise and innovation to The Grand’s culinary team. He will be working with Ahmed Abdalla, head chef of Legacy, the hotel’s Michelin favorited restaurant for February 2023, and Marc Williams, chef director of The Cookery School at The Grand. Prior to joining the hotel, Bonello served as the culinary director at Xara Collection for 21 years. During this time, Bonello and his team were awarded a Michelin star, one of only five restaurants in Malta. He began his culinary career as an apprentice chef at Ristorante Cosmana Navarra in Malta. Fuelled by his passion, he pursued further studies in food preparation and production at the Institute of Tourism Studies. He also received 18 months of rigorous training at the Berkeley Hotel in London and at various Michelin-starred restaurants. Commenting on his appointment, Bonello said: “I am thrilled to be a part of the continued success of this iconic hotel and lead the culinary team to new heights. The Grand’s commitment to showcasing the best produce in the region, alongside the talented individuals already pushing the quality of food, really excited me.” Simon Mahon, general manager at The Grand, added: “The Grand is becoming a destination for dining excellence, and Kevin’s appointment is the final piece of the puzzle. “His addition to our already strong culinary team is putting The Grand on the map, not just in York, but to the wider UK food scene, and with Kevin’s previous Michelin star, we have high hopes for his time at The Grand.”