April Lily Partridge plans ‘next chapter’ as she departs The Ledbury

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Partridge confirmed in an Instagram post that she had departed the three Michelin star restaurant, which she originally joined in late 2018.

“I’ve grown a lot from the chef and person that first walked through the doors all those years ago and I’m proud to have been a small part of the Ledbury story,” she said.

“I’ve worked with incredible chefs who have become friends for life, learnt life lessons and leave a stronger cook than when I first began.”

Partridge, whose CV includes stints at The Clove Club in London and Blue Hills Stone Barns restaurant in New York, has long been regarded as a true chef talent having been named Best Young Chef at the Observer Food Monthly Awards back in 2014 while working at The Ivy.

During her tenure at The Ledbury she won The Roux Scholarship, becoming only the second woman ever to win the high-profile cooking competition; and was named Chef to Watch at the 2023 National Restaurant Awards.

She was also part of the brigade that saw The Ledbury attain three-star status in this year’s Michelin Guide, and be named National Restaurant of the Year at the 2024 National Restaurant Awards this summer.

In her statement, Partridge paid tribute to The Ledbury chef patron Brett Graham.

“[He] taught me not just about how to cook with heart , but how important it is to be a good person, to care about suppliers, to go the extra mile with hospitality, and to be kind even when things are tough.

“No one has impacted me more in my career than him and I hope to take the Ledbury spirit with me along the rest of my life.

“Here’s to the next chapter. It’s been one hell of a journey.”

In an interview with Restaurant last year, Partridge spoke about her plans for the future.

She said: “When the time is right, I expect to locate more towards Kent, which is where a lot of my family is based.

“I would love to have my own place. Maybe something that does an amazing fine dining offer. I also love the idea of doing a bakery, and I’d like to have a casual spot where families can come for pizza and gelato.

“Time will tell what avenue I go down.”

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