Ashley Palmer-Watts, the chef director of Heston Blumenthal's the Fat Duck in Bray and Dinner by Heston (London, Melbourne and Dubai) is to leave the group after 20 years of service.
Palmer-Watts said, “After 20 incredible years, it is time for me to move on from Bray for a new chapter and to take on a fresh challenges.
“I will initially be spending some time with my family as I prepare for the new and exciting journey ahead.
“I am eternally grateful for the knowledge and memories I have gathered working with Heston and the group and would like to thank all the brilliant people past and present that have made the last 20 years nothing short of extraordinary.
“I wish everyone continued success for the future and I am very proud to have been part of the magic of Heston’s world.”
Palmer-Watts started at The Fat Duck’s door in 1999 and was made head chef in 2003 - when he was just twenty-five-years-old, and after winning the third star, he and Blumenthal started working with neuroscientists and specialists who helped them approach cooking in an entirely new way.