Jamie Oliver Restaurant’s former operations chef takes on pub

Jamie Oliver Restaurants’ former operations chef, Kanwar Gurmohan has taken on the lease of Star Pubs and Bars’ Surrey Cricketers in Windlesham. He will also undertake the joint £272,000 refurbishment with pub company starting this week.

During his time at Jamie Oliver’s, he was operations chef for six years, Prior to that he was executive chef for the Lord Mayor of London where he was responsible for major events ranging from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to presidential dinners.

His plans for pub includes a menu of traditional pub dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and high quality British produce as well as many vegan and vegetarian options. There is also plans to expand the restaurant area to 120 seats, with a bar for more casual drinking and dining.

Gurmohan said: “I’ve got a great team lined up for The Surrey Cricketers who are looking forward to opening the doors and meeting the local community to hear firsthand what they’d like from their pub. I want to offer the sort of independently run, unique friendly pub with great food and drink that the area deserves, to support local suppliers and to help create local jobs.”

Star Pubs and Bars regional operations director, Dugald Macer added: “The Surrey Cricketers is in a fantastic location with lots of space inside and out. It just needed the décor, food and drinks being brought up to date. It will now have these and an enthusiastic team with innovative ideas to take it forward.

“Kanwar has an extensive knowledge of food from casual dining, to cafés and grab and go. He has a passion for food and an appreciation of high standards which will result in a great local. We look forward to working with him and wish him well with The Surrey Cricketers and his plans to grow a pub estate.”