Chris Wheeler (chef)
Chris Wheeler (16 June 1973 – c. 5 March 2026) was a British chef.
Life and career
Wheeler was born in Swanage, Dorset in 1973.[1] He started his career at the Domaine De Bassible Hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant in the French town of Segos. He worked with Jean-Christophe Novelli for 10 years, becoming the youngest sous chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Wheeler progressed to group head chef with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Park Lane, Le Provence, Lymington, Maison Novelli and Les Saveurs, Mayfair.
In 2003 he joined Stoke Park Country Club, Spa and Hotel in 2003, and was head chef at Humphrey's three–AA Rosette restaurant.
In July 2018, Wheeler released his debut cook book The Ginger Chef 'Served Up'.
Wheeler's death was announced on 5 March 2026.[2][1]
Television work
| Year | Channel | TV appearances |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | ITV | Hell's Kitchen |
| 2013 | BBC 1 | Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is |
| 2014 | BBC 2 | Saturday Kitchen |
| 2014 | Channel 4 | Sunday Brunch |
| 2016 | BBC 2 | Great British Menu[3] |
Awards and accolades
| Awards | Publication |
|---|---|
| Best Local Menu, 2014 | Berkshire Life Food and Drinks Awards[4] |
| Hotel Chef of the Year (Over 250 Covers), 2016[5] | Hotel Cateys |
| Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year for Humphry's, 2016 | Buckinghamshire Food and Drinks Awards |
| Chef of the Year, 2016 | Berkshire Life Food and Drinks Awards |
In the press
Chris Wheeler featured on occasion in OK! and Hello! with featured recipes and interviews. He wrote a monthly food column for the Buckinghamshire Advertiser showcasing his favourite "at-home" recipes along with tips, flavours and flares of cooking.
References
- ^ a b Speakman, Kimberlee (5 March 2026). "British TV Chef Dies as Culinary Stars Share Tributes to the 'Extraordinary' Man". People. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ Tributes paid as former Stoke Park executive chef Chris Wheeler dies
- ^ Herbert, Tom. "Stoke Park Chef to make Great British Menu Debut". Get Bucks. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ Raycroft, Janice. "Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Food and Drinks Awards". Berkshire Life. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ Clissold, Louise. "Hotel Cateys 2016: Hotel Chef of the Year (more than 250 covers)". The Caterer. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
Further reading
- "Meet the Swanage-born chef competing in BBC2's Great British Menu". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- "My Life in Food: Chris Wheeler, head chef, Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire". The Independent. April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- "South Bucks chef's bid for Great British Menu glory". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- "Students cook up a storm alongside celebrity chef". Slough Observer. Retrieved March 20, 2017.