Will Lockwood to take up Roots head chef role

Roots, York, has announced the appointment of Will Lockwood as head chef, after the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star earlier this year.

According to the restaurant, Lockwood’s work at The Black Swan, working his way up from demi chef de partie in 2014 to head chef in 2017, makes him “exceptionally” well suited to his new role at Roots.

The restaurant also said Lockwood’s knowledge and understanding of the farm and kitchen garden at Oldstead “knows no bounds”, having worked closely with the team, growing and foraging the produce, before subsequently bringing it to table at The Black Swan.

Lockwood said: “I’ve worked with Tommy, his family and the team at The Black Swan almost exclusively since I left university in 2014 and am ever grateful for the experiences I’ve had to date.

“I’m excited to be back once again and play a part in the continued evolution of Roots, which is different to The Black Swan in many ways and yet centred around the same ethos, devotion to local produce and self-sufficiency that I love so much.”

Tommy Banks, co-founder at Roots, added: “It’s the produce, people and passion that make our businesses what they are and Will is a real testament to this. He’s played a crucial part in our team since joining in 2014 and I’m always amazed by the creativity and flair he shows in the kitchen every day.”