Matthew Tomkinson has been appointed as Executive Head Chef at Harbour Hotel Southampton

Joining alongside newly appointed General Manager Jorge Gertrudes, Tomkinson will lead the culinary direction of The Jetty Ocean Village, bringing a renewed focus on elevated, ingredient-led dining rooted in seasonality and coastal provenance.

The appointment forms part of the continued evolution of The Jetty restaurants, under the direction of Chef Patron Alex Aitken, whose long-standing influence and commitment to British seafood and produce define the group’s culinary identity.

Leading the culinary direction at The Jetty Ocean Village, Matthew Tomkinson brings a distinguished career shaped by some of the UK’s most respected kitchens. A Michelin-starred chef and winner of the prestigious Roux Scholarship, he is best known for his tenure at The Montagu Arms in Beaulieu, where he earned and retained a Michelin star for eight years while overseeing the hotel’s entire food operation. Earlier in his career, he was awarded his first Michelin Star as Head Chef at The Goose in Oxfordshire and has since worked as Executive Chef at the highly regarded Yarmouth restaurant, The Terrace.

Known for his refined yet approachable cooking style, Tomkinson brings a strong focus on seasonal produce and coastal flavours to The Jetty’s menus, celebrating the best of British ingredients with a particular emphasis on seafood. Signature dishes on the new menu include Hampshire Partridge ‘Schnitzel’ with cider apple purée and toasted hazelnuts, Honey-roasted Creedy Carver Duck Breast with caramelised orange and endive tart, Roasted Cornish Monkfish Tail with garlic and herb butter, and stone bass with smoked bacon, Tenderstem broccoli and red wine sauce, offering a clear expression of elevated, ingredient-led dining in a striking waterfront setting.