Jean-Christophe Novelli

Born in France, Jean-Christophe Novelli’s passion for cuisine began at a young age. At just 14, he started working in a bakery, and by the age of 20, he had already achieved the prestigious role of Head Chef to the Rothschild family at their private residence.

In the early 1980s, Jean-Christophe moved to the UK, where he took up a position at the renowned 5-star Chewton Glen Hotel. His talents quickly caught the eye of legendary British chef and restaurateur Keith Floyd, with whom Jean-Christophe worked closely as his ‘right-hand man.’

It wasn’t long before Jean-Christophe branched out on his own, establishing a series of multi-award-winning restaurants internationally. Today, he continues to be involved with his luxury brasserie, Novelli at City Quays in Belfast, located on the ground floor of the AC Hotel Belfast by Marriott.

A committed mentor, Jean-Christophe is passionate about nurturing the next generation of culinary talent. Over 15 years ago, he founded the Novelli Academy Cookery School on his Hertfordshire estate. Recognized as one of the top 25 cookery schools in the world, it continues to thrive, helping aspiring chefs and home cooks alike to hone their skills.

Jean-Christophe’s culinary expertise has earned him numerous prestigious accolades, including AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year in the UK, five out of five AA Rosettes, four Michelin stars, and Egon Ronay’s Best Dessert of the Year in the UK with the Golden Spoon Distinction. He also represented the UK as a finalist in the European Chef of the Year competition in Copenhagen. In recognition of his significant contributions to the industry, Jean-Christophe was awarded an MBE in 2021 and received the QE Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Restaurant Awards in 2022.

An avid sportsman and a proud father of four, Jean-Christophe is no stranger to the spotlight. His television appearances span decades, with notable shows such as Hell’s Kitchen, Celebrity X Factor, Jonathan Ross, Alive – Back to the Andes, Comic & Sport Relief, Celebrity Cribs, Family Fortunes, Shooting Stars, Bargain Hunt, Children in Need, and Cooking with the Stars. He also starred in his own U.S. series, Chef Academy, and gained further fame as the winner of Celebrity Hunted UK.

In 2024, Jean-Christophe made his highly anticipated debut as a judge on MasterChef Australia and is set to return for a second season in 2025.

To enquire about or book Jean-Christophe Novelli for your event contact Arena Entertainment. Either send an email to info@arenaentertainments.co.uk or speak to one of our booking agents on 0113-239-2222.