Congratulations to Oliver Peyton, judge on the Great British menu and Chairman and Owner of the restaurant company Peyton and Byrne who was today awarded an honorary OBE for services to the hospitality industry.
"I am hugely surprised, but am thrilled to have received an OBE." Peyton said in response to the announcement. "It’s a magnificent honour. I also want to thank my sisters Caitriona, Siobhan and Marie, who run Peyton and Byrne alongside me, as it wouldn’t have been possible without their help and support.”
Since starting Peyton & Byrne in 2004, Peyton now runs eight restaurants at some of Britain's best-known institutions including Restaurant at the Royal Academy of Arts, The Wallace Restaurant, The National Café, The National Dining Rooms, The Orangery and Pavilion, both at Kew Gardens and The ICA Café Bar. The company also has a chain of coffee houses called Peyton & Byrne.
"I love the restaurant business, but I only want to do things where I think I can make a difference," Peyton told us when we last interviewed him.
His next project is an as-yet-unnamed restaurant at the Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly. Peyton is working on opening up in the Keeper's House as part of a £5.7m renovation project. He'll be "developing a brand new innovative concept for the restaurant which will also feature special culinary events linked to culture such as Great Dinners from History".
"I am hugely grateful for the wonderful career that I have in the industry," said Byrne. "Now to have been recognised with this honour is the icing on the cake!”
Peyton's OBE award announcement came on the same day as the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Other foodie types who were honoured include Kit and Tim Kemp, owners of the Firmdale Hotels group (Charlotte Street Hotel, Soho Hotel and more) Mary Berry, and the Head Chef of the Lanesborough Hotel Paul Michael Gayler.
