Richard was schooled in Chipping Campden, before he then started in a Chipping Campden hotel where he progressed from kitchen porter to Sous Chef. Richard then moved for a Head Chef position in a Cotswold pub at the age of 25. After this his next position was at the Kingham Plough under Emily Watkins, ex Fat Duck and winner of The BBC's Great British Menu.

 

At the end of 2008 he moved with to South Africa with Solanche securing a position at 'The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais'. During his time at 'The Tasting Room', the restaurant moved from number 50 to number 37 in San Pellegrino's World’s 50 Best Restaurants. He was promoted to Sous Chef in the Tasting Room within three months of his time there and the restaurant was also voted the Best in Africa and the Middle East for the second year running.

 

Solanche (aka Mrs Dozen) had just finished university in South Africa before meeting Richard on her travels. She dove into the hospitality industry working (and learning) her way through pubs, bars, brasseries and hotels, before moving back to South Africa in 2009. She worked at a Bread and Wine restaurant on the Moreson wine farm in Franschhoek before landing a gig as assistant manager just down the road at LQF with Richard.

 

Her Drama Degree major of Stage and Events Management equipped her with the necessary skills to manage her ‘stage’ every night, and when the opportunity to open the chef’s dozen at the original site in Warwickshire came up, She jumped at it, learning her business skills along the way. In their first year, they not only gained an entry into the Michelin Guide, but also achieved 5 out of 5 in the second city’s Birmingham Mail – which, at the time, made them the only restaurant, outside the city to gain such a high accolade.