Phil Howard is the British chef and restaurateur widely recognised as one of the defining UK fine-dining figures of the past three decades, best known for his 25-year run as chef-proprietor of The Square in Mayfair which held two Michelin stars. Born 1 July 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Howard moved to the UK as a child, studied microbiology at Canterbury University before turning to cookery, and trained at Bruton’s in Bruton, Somerset and at Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s in London before opening The Square with business partner Nigel Platts-Martin on Charlotte Street in 1991.
The Square moved to Bruton Street in Mayfair in 1997 and earned its first Michelin star in 1994 and second in 1998, holding two stars continuously from 1998 to 2017. Howard left The Square in 2016 and opened Elystan Street on Elystan Street in Chelsea in 2016, which earned a Michelin star in 2018 and continues operating through 2025-2026. In 2026 Howard opens a new fast-casual branch of his NOTTO pasta brand at Broadgate in the City of London, announced in January 2026, extending his NOTTO concept beyond its original Chelsea venue.
TL;DR
- British chef born 1 July 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Studied microbiology at Canterbury before turning to cookery
- Trained at Bruton’s Somerset and Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s London
- Opened The Square in Mayfair in 1991 with Nigel Platts-Martin
- The Square held two Michelin stars 1998-2017; left in 2016
- Opened Elystan Street Chelsea 2016 (Michelin star 2018); 2026 opens NOTTO Broadgate
Phil Howard key facts
| Born | 1 July 1966, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | British |
| Training | Canterbury University (microbiology); Bruton’s Somerset; Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s London |
| The Square | Mayfair London 1991-2016 under Howard (two Michelin stars 1998-2016) |
| Current restaurants | Elystan Street, Chelsea (Michelin star); NOTTO pasta (Chelsea + Broadgate 2026) |
| Business partner | Nigel Platts-Martin |
| 2026 activity | NOTTO Broadgate opens January 2026; Phil Howard x Kate Austen dinner 22 January 2026 |
Early life and training of Phil Howard
Howard was born on 1 July 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to the UK as a child. He studied microbiology at Canterbury University and originally considered a scientific career before turning decisively to cookery in his early twenties. The scientific training informed his later approach to technique, ingredients and kitchen organisation, and he has spoken in multiple interviews about the analytical approach that microbiology background brought to his cookery.
Howard trained at Bruton’s in Bruton, Somerset and subsequently joined Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s in Wandsworth, one of the defining UK fine-dining restaurants of the late 1980s under White’s famous kitchen. The Harvey’s experience gave him access to the classical French technique and the intensity that White had built, and positioned him alongside the generation of UK chefs who passed through that kitchen. He also worked at Bibendum under Simon Hopkinson during this period.
In 1991 Howard opened The Square with business partner Nigel Platts-Martin on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia, London. The Square earned its first Michelin star in 1994 and moved to Bruton Street in Mayfair in 1997. It earned its second Michelin star in 1998 and held two stars continuously from 1998 until Howard left in 2016, one of the longest continuous UK two-star runs of the period.
Phil Howard career timeline
- 1 July 1966: Born in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Early 1980s: Moves to UK with family
- Mid-1980s: Studies microbiology at Canterbury University
- Late 1980s: Trains at Bruton’s Somerset and Bibendum London under Simon Hopkinson
- Late 1980s: Works at Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s in Wandsworth
- 1991: Opens The Square with Nigel Platts-Martin on Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia
- 1994: The Square earns first Michelin star
- 1997: The Square moves to Bruton Street, Mayfair
- 1998: The Square earns second Michelin star (held continuously 1998-2016)
- 2007: Publishes The Square Cookbook Volume 1: Savoury
- 2013: Publishes The Square Cookbook Volume 2: Sweet
- 2016: Leaves The Square after 25 years
- October 2016: Opens Elystan Street on Elystan Street, Chelsea
- 2018: Elystan Street earns Michelin star
- 2019: Opens NOTTO pasta concept in Chelsea
- 2020-2024: Elystan Street and NOTTO continue
- August 2025: Staff Canteen feature interview
- November 2025: Elystan Street one-week special event
- December 2025: Final time cooking The Square menu as pop-up at Elystan Street
- 3 January 2026: Phil Howard x Kate Austen dinner announced for 22 January 2026
- 16 January 2026: NOTTO Broadgate opens as fast-casual branch in City of London
- 2026: Elystan Street continues with Michelin star; NOTTO expands
Phil Howard signature style: modern British fine dining with classical French foundation
Howard’s central argument, developed across 25 years at The Square from 1991 to 2016 and refined at Elystan Street from 2016, is that serious British fine dining can be anchored in classical French technique combined with seasonal British ingredients and a modern presentation register. The Square menu under Howard across the Bruton Street Mayfair period (1997-2016) became one of the defining London two-star menus of the 2000s and 2010s. Elystan Street has continued the approach in a more intimate Chelsea format.
The second defining element is the long partnership with Nigel Platts-Martin. The Square was operated as a partnership between Howard in the kitchen and Platts-Martin in restaurant management, and the partnership demonstrated that sustained chef-restaurateur partnerships can anchor two-Michelin-star restaurants for more than two decades. The 25-year run remains one of the longest chef-restaurateur partnerships in UK fine dining.
The third pillar is the NOTTO pasta concept, launched 2019 in Chelsea and extended to Broadgate in January 2026. NOTTO is a more casual fast-casual pasta format that sits alongside Elystan Street in the Howard portfolio. Within the current UK fine-dining cohort Howard sits alongside peers including Tom Aikens, Simon Rogan and Sat Bains as one of the defining British fine-dining figures.
Notable Phil Howard work
Several Howard restaurants have become reference points in London fine dining. The Square on Bruton Street in Mayfair (1997-2016 under Howard; earlier on Charlotte Street 1991-1997) was one of the defining London two-Michelin-star restaurants of its era, holding two stars continuously from 1998. Elystan Street on Elystan Street in Chelsea, opened October 2016, has held a Michelin star since 2018. NOTTO pasta in Chelsea since 2019 and Broadgate from January 2026 extends the Howard portfolio into fast-casual pasta. Cookbooks include The Square Cookbook Volume 1: Savoury (2007) and Volume 2: Sweet (2013).
Phil Howard awards and recognition
- Late 1980s: Works at Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s in Wandsworth
- 1991: Opens The Square with Nigel Platts-Martin on Charlotte Street
- 1994: The Square earns first Michelin star
- 1997: The Square moves to Bruton Street, Mayfair
- 1998: The Square earns second Michelin star (held continuously 1998-2016)
- 2007: Publishes The Square Cookbook Volume 1: Savoury
- 2016: Leaves The Square after 25 years; opens Elystan Street Chelsea
- 2018: Elystan Street earns Michelin star
- 2019: Opens NOTTO pasta concept in Chelsea
- August 2025: Staff Canteen feature interview
- December 2025: Final The Square menu pop-up at Elystan Street
- January 2026: NOTTO Broadgate opens as fast-casual branch in City of London
- 2026: Elystan Street continues with Michelin star; NOTTO expands
Phil Howard impact on London fine dining
Howard’s most concrete contribution is the 25-year run at The Square from 1991 to 2016, including the 18-year continuous two-Michelin-star period from 1998 to 2016. Few London chefs have sustained a two-star restaurant for comparable duration, and The Square became one of the defining London two-star restaurants of the 2000s and 2010s.
The second contribution is the Elystan Street restaurant in Chelsea since October 2016 with Michelin star from 2018. The restaurant demonstrates sustained transition from The Square into a new intimate Chelsea format while maintaining Michelin-level cookery.
The third contribution is the NOTTO pasta concept and the 2026 Broadgate expansion. Within the current UK fine-dining cohort Howard sits alongside peers including Tom Aikens, Simon Rogan and Sat Bains as one of the defining British fine-dining figures of the past three decades.
Phil Howard FAQ
Where is Elystan Street?
On Elystan Street in Chelsea, London. The restaurant opened in October 2016 after Howard left The Square, and has held a Michelin star since 2018. It continues operating through 2025-2026 as his current flagship.
What is NOTTO?
NOTTO is Howard’s pasta brand, launched in 2019 in Chelsea as a more casual fast-casual pasta format that sits alongside Elystan Street in his portfolio. In January 2026 a new Broadgate branch opened in the City of London as the first expansion of the concept.
How long did Howard run The Square?
25 years from 1991 to 2016 with business partner Nigel Platts-Martin. The Square opened on Charlotte Street in 1991, earned its first Michelin star 1994, moved to Bruton Street in Mayfair 1997, earned second star 1998, and held two stars continuously from 1998 to 2016.
Did Howard train under Marco Pierre White?
Yes. In the late 1980s Howard worked at Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s in Wandsworth, one of the defining UK fine-dining restaurants of the period. The Harvey’s experience gave him access to the classical French technique and intensity that White built, alongside other UK chefs of his generation who passed through that kitchen.
Where is Howard from?
Born 1 July 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Moved to the UK as a child. Studied microbiology at Canterbury University before turning to cookery in his early twenties. Trained at Bruton’s Somerset, Bibendum London, and Marco Pierre White’s Harvey’s.
What is next for Phil Howard
Elystan Street continues in Chelsea with Michelin star through 2026, NOTTO Broadgate continues from its January 2026 opening, and NOTTO Chelsea continues. His public Instagram (@elystanstreet) is the best source for current updates.
