Atul Kochhar is the pioneering twice Michelin-starred chef from Jamshedpur in East India, who has changed the way people perceive and experience Indian cuisine in the UK.
From leaving his role at The Oberoi Hotel Group in India to move to the UK in 1994, Atul has been at the forefront of the culinary industry for over 25 years.
Taking inspiration from his native India, Atul has continued to invest in researching regional dishes; his award-winning cooking a unique melting pot of traditional culinary techniques, the very best spices and ingredients from India combined with the best of British.
Earning his first Michelin star at Tamarind restaurant in 2001, Atul then opened his own restaurant, Benares in London’s Mayfair, in 2002, which earned him a second Michelin star in 2007. Since then the chef has grown his restaurant portfolio, opening several award-winning venues including: Sindhu in Marlow and Hawkyns in Amersham in Buckinghamshire and Indian Essence in Petts Wood, Kent.
In 2018 Atul left Benares to pursue other independent ventures, though he returned to Mayfair in March 2019 with the launch of Kanishka on Maddox Street. In addition to Indian Essence in Petts Wood, Atul Kochhar Restaurant Group operates Sindhu at The Compleat Angler and Vaasu on Chapel St, both in Marlow, along with Hawkyns at The Crown Inn in Amersham.