A second Kent restaurant, Essence Wrotham, from twice Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, has opened in Wrotham Heath, on London Road on 27 October.
Atul Kochhar was the first Indian chef to win a Michelin star in the UK, awarded at Tamarind in Mayfair in 2001, and won a second at his own restaurant, Benares, in 2007.
He become a familiar face on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and ITV’s James Martin Saturday Morning.
His restaurant group already has a presence in Kent – Essence at The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells , on the site of the former Woods Restaurant & Bar, has been serving pan-Indian fine dining since 2024. The first Ennce, in Patts Wood near Bromley on the Kent border opened in 2012.
The Essence restaurants are partnered by restaurateur Jitinda Singh.
Essence Wrotham is offering a similar format to Kochhar’s other Essence restaurants, centred on pan-Indian menus with a contemporary British touch, plus à la carte, set and tasting menu options.
https://essencewrothamrestaurant.co.uk
Author: George Shaw
Former BBC journalist and founder and CEO of an award-winning London advertising and PR company for 20 years, providing restaurant consultancy services. Spent a decade as the director of communications of the Asian Catering Federation in the UK and lead judge for its various restaurant and chef awards programmes. Now returned to journalism, specialising in food and travel and currently the Editor-in-Chief for Taste London, Taste Asia, the Good Curry Guide and CEO of International Culinary Guides.