Award-winning chef's new Chester restaurant to have the X factor

Chef Harry Guy will head up 'X by Harry Guy', housed at Wildes Chester, which is on course to open in summer 2022.

Over four years in the making and led by celebrated chef and Roux scholar, Harry Guy, X is the culmination of a dream.

At X, Harry aims to take guests on a ‘gastronomic journey that will undoubtedly entice the senses’.

The 50-cover restaurant will serve ‘flavour-first’, British dishes, sourcing the best produce from across the UK to curate ingredient-focused food that embodies the tastes, textures and aromas of the natural world.

Working closely with quality suppliers and farmers in the Cheshire countryside and beyond, the restaurant aims to bring the freshest, traceable ingredients to the table.

Chef Harry Guy’s first solo venture will bring years of experience, having worked in some of the most celebrated kitchens in the world.

His résumé includes L’enclume, Roganic, Aulis, Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill, Le Carré Gourmand and Mallory Court Hotel.

Although the time spent at L’Enclume and latterly Roganic, have 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.

Award-winning chef Harry Guy.

He completed his stage at three-star Michelin restaurant Saison in San Francisco, under the tutelage of acclaimed chef, Joshua Skenes, becoming the 2016 winner.

Harry Guy’s next move has been hotly anticipated, with X described as the ultimate career goal by the chef.

He said: “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.

"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.”

The space will be ‘invitingly dark’, creating a sense of escapism from the outside world but maintaining a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Harry added: “For me, it’s all about the guest’s journey; 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.”

X by Harry Guy will be located at Wildes Chester, the 18-bedroom boutique hotel, also launching in summer 2022.

The new Wildes Hotel will open in Chester in summer 2022.

The brainchild of Paul Wildes, CEO of The Wildes Hotel Group which has a successful portfolio of hotels in the North of England, the hotel will feature a rooftop pool, amphitheatre sauna and terrace with views overlooking the city.

Paul said: “It feels fantastic that X is no longer just a pipe dream but is set to become one of the finest restaurants in the country. Harry’s vision is really quite special and completely unique for city.

“Transforming this historical building, we want to create something that stands the test of time, as Chester has for thousands of years.

"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.”