James Tanner

James Tanner is an English chef, television personality, restaurateur and author who is known for his regular appearances on programmes such as Ready Steady Cook and Saturday Kitchen.

Having trained with the famous Roux Brothers, James and his brother went on to launch a number of restaurants in the UK, with their first Tanners Restaurant being awarded AA Best Restaurant in the UK 2007 and 2008.

James began his TV career in 2002 on UKTV Food, becoming a regular co-presenter for Great Food Live. He then joined BBC One’s Ready Steady Cook, with the show reaching close to three million viewers per episode.

In the 2009 he appeared in Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Food and from 2010 until 2017 was a regular chef on the ITV Breakfast programme Lorraine.

Other programmes James has featured on include BBC’s Step up to the Plate, Saturday Kitchen, Something for the Weekend, Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is, Take on the Takeaway and Country House Sunday on ITV.

James has been the face of high profile campaigns for brands such as Bird’s Eye, Blossom Hill, Heinz Soup, Flora, and in 2015 became chef ambassador for Coup de Pates UK.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author James Tanner for your next event.

Type Of Speaker

After Dinner Hospitality, Food & Drink Presenters Speaker

More About James Tanner

James began his catering career in the early 1990s working in Brookers Oast a Whitbread Brewers Fayre pub in Kent where he prepared salads and starters. He studied hotel management, after which he worked in the kitchens of several restaurants, often with his older brother Chris Tanner.

James diligently worked his way up the ranks and his hard work and commitment was rewarded with the offer from the Roux brothers, Michel and Albert, to be Chef de Partie in New York at the Lake Placid Lodge. Just four months after taking up the position, he was promoted to junior Sous-chef.

James Tanner The Kentish Hare Pub Award Winner Chef cook food speaker at Great British Speakers

James Tanner | Restaurants

In 1999 when he was just 23 years old James and his brother opened Tanners Restaurant in Plymouth.

Together, they opened Barbican Kitchen in the Plymouth Gin Distillery in 2006

In Spring 2006, the Tanner brothers opened a second restaurant in Plymouth, The Barbican Kitchen

In 2011, James and his brother opened The Kitchen Cafe, serving snack style foods as an offshoot from the brasserie style cuisine.

In 2014, the brothers opened a pub called The Kentish Hare in Bidborough in Kent.

In 2015, they opened a fish and chip restaurant, Catch, in Looe in Cornwall.

James Tanner | Judge and Festival Contributor

James is a regular at food festivals across the UK, as well as hosting the fine dining restaurant at Royal Ascot in 2017 and 2018. In 2014 he was appointed Chef Director of Salon Culinaire at Hotelympia.

James Tanner Plymouth Chef Restaurants Events barbican kitchen the kentish hare pub TV at Agent Great British Speakers

He is also a judge for Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or young chef competition, and was chairman of the judges for eleven years. In 2018 he co-presented the 25th Craft Guild of Chefs awards ceremony. James hosted the Western Daily Press Food and Farming Awards 2015.

James is passionate about using local, seasonal and sustainable produce and was involved in the first Red Tractor Week, supporting farmers, processors, retailers and distributors who work together to maintain and raise production standards.

James Tanner | Books

James has written and co-written four books, including:

For Chocolate Lovers – co-written with Chris Tanner in 2006
Ice Cream – co-written with Chris Tanner in 2008
James Tanner Takes 5: Delicious Dishes Using Just 5 Ingredients – 2010
Old Favourites, New Twists: 100 classic recipes with a difference – Published 11 July 2013