Pub chef Fred Smith sets up food consultancy business

Fred Smith, who spent three years at the helm in the South Kensington outlet, has moved on after three years to set up his own company, called Fred Smith.

Having gained a reputation for his burgers at the pub, Smith is working with London food critic Daniel Young for a ‘burger bash’
on 28 October.

It is an extension of Young’s ‘Burger Monday’ initiative. Smith will cook at a central venue, yet to be confirmed, with four top chefs.

Around 200 customers will each pay £40 for drinks and five high-end burgers created by each chef. The food will be innovative and unlike any that can be bought in the chefs’ venues.

“I’m confident it will work well and, if it does, we’d like to make it a regular thing with more people,” said Smith. “There have been various events like this in the USA. It is geared at the high-end burger market with luxury ingredients.”

He is also working on moving the Flat Iron pop-up from the Owl & Pussycat in Shoreditch, east London, to a more central location to open in November.
Smith will appoint the kitchen team and be involved in cooking initially.

His work also includes consultancy work for Byron, such as developing its Movember burger of a sesame seed bun, salted cucumber, pickled red onion ring, lettuce, mustard dill dressing and Cheddar, which will be on sale from 1 November in support of a testicular cancer charity.