North West scores new opening ‘X by Harry Guy’ in summer 2022
HIS resume reads like a “Restaurants you must visit before you die” list, spanning L’Enclume, Roganic, Aulis, Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill, Le Carré Gourmand and Mallory Court Hotel, to name a few.
After working in some of the best kitchens in the world, I’m now ready to do things my way
Having worked in some of the most celebrated kitchens in the world, award-winning chef Harry Guy is bringing his first solo venture to the North West.
X By Harry Guy will open in summer 2022 at the much-anticipated boutique hotel, Wildes Chester.
Although the time spent at L’Enclume and Roganic have undoubtedly shaped his talent, the highlight of Harry’s career to date is winning The Roux Scholarship: one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for chefs.
He completed his stage at three-star Michelin restaurant Saison in San Francisco, under the tutelage of acclaimed chef Joshua Skenes, beating stiff competition to become the 2016 winner.
Over four years in the making, Harry says that X is the culmination of a dream to champion the highest calibre of natural produce, showcase culinary excellence and deliver exceptional hospitality.
Combining creativity and craft, X aims to take guests on a “gastronomic journey that will undoubtedly entice the senses.”
“I am absolutely buzzing that we can finally make this announcement as I have been hounded for months by people wanting to know what my plan was,” says Harry.
“X has been a long time in the making and is something that dreams are made of for a chef like me.
“I am essentially creating my perfect restaurant; from the dishes that I have had brewing in my mind for years, to the look and feel of the space itself.
“I am also in the process of forming a great team of people from the ground up, creating something that feels really special. Right now I couldn’t be more proud or more eager to get the doors open.”
X will serve British dishes, working closely with quality suppliers and farmers in the Cheshire countryside and beyond, to bring the freshest, traceable ingredients to the table. With 50 covers, the space will be “invitingly dark”, creating a sense of escapism from the outside world but maintaining a warm and inviting atmosphere.
“For me, it’s all about the guest’s journey,” says Harry.
“As soon as they step into the restaurant, I want the outside world to fade away and for them to feel totally immersed in the experience.
"From the atmospheric interiors to the food itself and how we serve it, I want to create a place where people can feel totally comfortable but enjoy something outside the ordinary.
“After working in some of the best kitchens in the world, I’m now ready to do things my way and have big ambitions for X.”
Wildes Chester will open in 2022. The 18-bedroom boutique hotel will feature a rooftop pool, amphitheatre sauna and terrace with views overlooking the city.
Paul Wildes, CEO of The Wildes Hotel Group, said, “It feels fantastic that X is no longer just a pipedream but is set to become one of the finest restaurants in the country. Harry’s vision is really quite special and completely unique for the city.
“Like many city centres, Chester is currently undergoing a massive period of change, particularly on the hospitality front with so many interesting venues popping up all over the city.
“We have ambitious plans for X and feel confident that the restaurant will put Chester on the map as a real culinary destination, becoming an important cornerstone in the heart of the city.”
X By Harry Guy, Wildes Chester, Bridge Street, Chester
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