Restaurant with rooms Crockers Henley, located in Henley-on-Thames, has announced the appointment of Alex Payne as its new Head Chef.

Payne will be heading up The Thames Table, a 16-seater chef’s table experience championing British produce and bringing guests experience-led, memorable meals from the theatre-style kitchen.

Making his head chef debut, Payne will bring his classic-meets-modern style, mastered during his time spent at the Michelin-starred The Latymer at Pennyhill Park, Heston Blumenthal’s Hind’s Head in Bray and at The Savoy Grill – Gordon Ramsay.

The chef’s style is inspired by classic flavours and seasonal produce using “only the very best ingredients to produce bold flavours and to create an experience that guests will warmly remember for years to come”.

Alex’s modern British tasting menu – a full 7 courses at dinner, shorter at lunch – will include Porthilly Oyster, ginger, Rebellion beer; Barbecued British Hispi Cabbage, Ewes Curd, Yeast & Bacon; and Herdwick Spring Lamb rack and Braised Belly, Asparagus, Peas, Curds & Whey.

To whet appetites, snacks will also include Crab & Avocado; Truffle & gruyere; and Smoked Chicken Liver Parfait & Cumberland Gel. Working with the seasons, sweet courses include White Peach, Raspberry, Vanilla and Chocolate, Peanut, Passion Fruit and Yoghurt.

New menus have been paired with wines chosen by Crockers Henley’s General Manager and Head of Wine, Gemma Aldridge – formerly of Brighton’s 10 Green Bottles. She has chosen wines including Gusbourne’s new vintage Blanc de Blancs, Riesling Trocken from Clemens Busch and Ministry of Clouds’ 2019 Shiraz.