Brett Graham is the Australian-born British chef widely recognised as one of the defining UK fine-dining figures of the past two decades, and the first Australian chef-owner in history to earn three Michelin stars for his restaurant. Born 1979 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, Graham trained at Regency Park TAFE in Adelaide and at the Liverpool Plains cookery school before winning the Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award and moving to London. He joined Philip Howard’s The Square in Mayfair as a sous-chef, and in 2005 became head chef at The Ledbury in Notting Hill, London.
The Ledbury earned its first Michelin star in 2006 shortly after Graham took the head-chef role, and its second star in 2010. In 2023 The Ledbury earned its third Michelin star, making Brett Graham the first Australian chef-owner in history to achieve three Michelin stars for his restaurant. The Ledbury retained its three Michelin stars in 2024, 2025 and 2026, with the September 2025 Michelin inspector visit continuing the affirmation. Graham is co-owner of the restaurant with Nigel Platts-Martin and the late Philip Howard, and continues to lead the kitchen through 2026.
TL;DR
- Australian-born British chef born 1979 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Trained in Adelaide and NSW; winner of Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award
- Sous-chef at Philip Howard’s The Square in Mayfair before moving to The Ledbury
- Head chef at The Ledbury in Notting Hill since 2005
- The Ledbury Michelin stars: 2006 first, 2010 second, 2023 third
- First Australian chef-owner in history to earn three Michelin stars (retained 2025-2026)
Brett Graham key facts
| Born | 1979, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian-British |
| Training | Regency Park TAFE Adelaide; Liverpool Plains NSW; The Square Mayfair under Philip Howard |
| Landmark award | Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year (pre-London move) |
| Restaurant | The Ledbury, Notting Hill, London (head chef since 2005; three Michelin stars since 2023) |
| Co-owners | Nigel Platts-Martin and the late Philip Howard |
| Historic first | First Australian chef-owner in history to earn three Michelin stars |
Early life and training of Brett Graham
Graham was born in 1979 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, on the east coast about 160 kilometres north of Sydney. He grew up in the Hunter Region of NSW and trained at Regency Park TAFE in Adelaide for his formal catering qualifications. He subsequently worked in Australian fine-dining kitchens in the late 1990s, building the classical technique and produce-focused approach that characterises Australian fine dining of the period.
Graham won the Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award, one of the most prestigious Australian culinary awards, which provided funding for European experience. In 2000 at age 21 he moved to London and joined Philip Howard’s The Square in Mayfair as a sous-chef. The Square held two Michelin stars during this period and was one of the defining London fine-dining restaurants, providing Graham with access to the very highest level of UK fine dining.
In 2005 Graham became head chef at The Ledbury, a new restaurant on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, co-owned by Nigel Platts-Martin (Graham’s future Ledbury partner) and Philip Howard (his former mentor at The Square). The Ledbury earned its first Michelin star in 2006 shortly after Graham took the head-chef role, marking the start of one of the most sustained upward trajectories in UK fine dining over the subsequent two decades.
Brett Graham career timeline
- 1979: Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Mid-1990s: Attends Regency Park TAFE in Adelaide
- Late 1990s: Works in Australian fine-dining kitchens; wins Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award
- 2000: Moves to London; joins Philip Howard’s The Square in Mayfair as sous-chef
- 2005: Becomes head chef at The Ledbury in Notting Hill
- 2006: The Ledbury earns first Michelin star
- 2010: The Ledbury earns second Michelin star
- 2013: The Ledbury ranks in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants top ten
- 2015: Peak World’s 50 Best Restaurants position (number 10)
- 2020-2021: The Ledbury closes during Covid-19 pandemic
- 2022: The Ledbury reopens after pandemic closure
- 2023: The Ledbury earns third Michelin star
- 2023: Brett Graham becomes first Australian chef-owner in history to earn three Michelin stars
- 2024: The Ledbury retains three Michelin stars
- 30 September 2025: Michelin Guide inspector visit continues affirmation
- 2025: The Ledbury retains three Michelin stars in 2025 Michelin Guide
- 2026: The Ledbury retains three Michelin stars in 2026 Michelin Guide
- 2026: Continues as head chef and co-owner of The Ledbury, Notting Hill
Brett Graham signature style: produce-led modern British fine dining
Graham’s central argument, developed across 20 years as head chef at The Ledbury from 2005, is that serious modern British fine dining can be anchored in rigorous produce selection, game and wild ingredients, and classical French technique applied to British landscape cookery. The Ledbury menu is built around seasonal British and European produce with a notable emphasis on game, fish from British coastal waters, and foraged ingredients. Graham’s approach to the Ledbury kitchen garden and to supplier relationships has anchored the restaurant’s approach across two decades.
The second defining element is the sustained upward trajectory across 20 years. The Ledbury has earned Michelin stars at 1, 5 and 18-year milestones (first 2006, second 2010, third 2023), demonstrating progressive refinement rather than an immediate arrival at the top. Few UK chef-head-chef partnerships have sustained this pace of improvement across comparable duration.
The third pillar is the Australian-British bridge and the 2023 three-Michelin-star achievement. Graham is the first Australian chef-owner in history to earn three Michelin stars for his restaurant, a landmark moment for Australian chefs internationally. Within the current UK three-Michelin-star cohort Graham sits alongside peers including Simon Rogan at L’Enclume and Phil Howard, his former Square mentor.
Notable Brett Graham work
The Ledbury on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill is the defining Brett Graham project. Opened 2005 with Graham as head chef, the restaurant has held three Michelin stars since 2023 and held earlier one and two stars across the 2006-2023 period. Its peak World’s 50 Best Restaurants position was number 10 in 2015. The restaurant reopened in 2022 after pandemic closure and subsequently achieved the three-star promotion in 2023. The restaurant continues operating in 2026 with three Michelin stars retained in the 2026 Guide.
Brett Graham awards and recognition
- Late 1990s: Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award
- 2000: Moves to London; joins The Square Mayfair under Philip Howard
- 2005: Becomes head chef at The Ledbury Notting Hill
- 2006: The Ledbury earns first Michelin star
- 2010: The Ledbury earns second Michelin star
- 2015: The Ledbury peaks at number 10 in World’s 50 Best Restaurants
- 2023: The Ledbury earns third Michelin star
- 2023: First Australian chef-owner in history to earn three Michelin stars
- 2024-2026: The Ledbury retains three Michelin stars in each annual Guide
- September 2025: Michelin Guide inspector visit affirmation
Brett Graham impact on UK fine dining
Graham’s most concrete contribution is the 20-year sustained upward trajectory at The Ledbury from 2005 to the 2023 three-Michelin-star promotion. Few UK chef-head-chef runs have sustained this pace of improvement across comparable duration, with Michelin promotions in 2006, 2010 and 2023 demonstrating progressive refinement rather than immediate arrival.
The second contribution is the 2023 three-Michelin-star achievement as the first Australian chef-owner in history. The milestone has positioned Graham alongside Simon Rogan at L’Enclume in the current UK three-star cohort, and established an international benchmark for Australian chefs.
The third contribution is the continued operation of The Ledbury through the Covid-19 period and the three-star-retention status through 2024, 2025 and 2026. Within the current UK fine-dining cohort Graham sits alongside peers including Phil Howard (his former Square mentor) and Simon Rogan as one of the defining British fine-dining figures.
Brett Graham FAQ
How many Michelin stars does The Ledbury have?
Three Michelin stars since 2023. The restaurant earned its first star in 2006, second in 2010, and third in 2023. The three Michelin stars have been retained in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Michelin Guides. The September 2025 Michelin Guide inspector visit provides continued affirmation of the three-star status.
Where is Brett Graham from?
Born 1979 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. He grew up in the Hunter Region of NSW and trained at Regency Park TAFE in Adelaide. In 2000 at age 21 he moved to London to join The Square Mayfair as a sous-chef.
Is Graham the first Australian with three Michelin stars?
Yes, as chef-owner. Brett Graham is the first Australian chef-owner in history to earn three Michelin stars for his restaurant, a landmark that The Ledbury reached in 2023. The achievement was covered extensively in the Michelin Guide and international food media.
Who owns The Ledbury?
The Ledbury is co-owned by Brett Graham alongside Nigel Platts-Martin and the late Philip Howard. Nigel Platts-Martin is also a long-time restaurant partner of Howard at The Square Mayfair (1991-2016). The three-way ownership has anchored The Ledbury across more than two decades.
Did The Ledbury close during the pandemic?
Yes. The Ledbury closed during the 2020-2021 Covid-19 pandemic period and reopened in 2022. The post-pandemic reopening was followed by the 2023 third-Michelin-star promotion, making the Graham team’s post-pandemic recovery one of the defining UK fine-dining stories of the period.
What is next for Brett Graham
The Ledbury continues in Notting Hill through 2026 with three Michelin stars retained, following the 2026 Michelin Guide affirmation and the September 2025 inspector visit. Graham continues as head chef and co-owner. His public Instagram (@theledburyrestaurant) is the best source for current updates.
