Ankit Thapliyal
Executive Chef | Head Chef | Hotel Culinary Operations Leader
About
Accomplished culinary leader with over 20 years of progressive experience across luxury hotels, premium restaurant groups, multi-site operations, banqueting, and high-volume hospitality businesses in the UK and internationally. Proven track record of leading large kitchen brigades and multi-site culinary operations while delivering exceptional guest experiences, driving profitability, controlling food and labour costs, and maintaining the highest standards of culinary excellence.
Experience
Head Chef - DoubleTree by Hilton King's Cross - London
(2025-10)
- Lead culinary operations across a 390-room Hilton hotel
- Manage a 25-member brigade
- Oversee approximately £180,000 monthly food revenue (£2.16m annually)
- Achieve 76% GP
- Manage food costs, labour, suppliers, menu development and banqueting up to 120 guests
Group Head Chef - Hoppers - London
(2024-10 - 2025-10)
- Directed culinary operations across three London restaurants and the central production kitchen
- Led Head Chefs, menu development, costing, recruitment, training and GP performance
Head Chef - Brasserie Blanc South Bank - London
(2022-01 - 2024-10)
- Directed all kitchen operations, budgets, food and labour costs, team development and quality standards
Head Chef - Gaucho Hampstead & Gaucho Piccadilly - London
(2019-10 - 2021-12)
- Managed premium steakhouse operations, food quality, cost control and team performance
Head Chef - Masala Zone Covent Garden & Earls Court - London
(2016-12 - 2019-09)
- Managed high-volume kitchen operations, recruitment, training and profitability
Senior Sous Chef - MW Eat
(2014 - 2016)
Chef de Cuisine - Crowne Plaza Kochi
(2012 - 2014)
Banqueting Sous Chef - The Leela Mumbai
(2011 - 2012)
Acting Head Chef - The Orchid Hotel Pune
(2010 - 2011)
Hotel Sous Chef - The Orchid Hotel Mumbai
(2007 - 2010)
Education
Bachelor of Hotel & Tourism Management - Hotel & Tourism Management - Mumbai University (2004 - 2007)
