Ashley Saxton leaves role as director of restaurants and kitchens at Harrods

Ashley Saxton has left his role as director of restaurants and kitchens at Harrods after almost seven years.

He joined the department store in 2019 and led a major overhaul of its hospitality offer, overseeing around 26 restaurants in the building and revamping its Dining Hall by partnering with big-name chefs including Jason Atherton, Tom Kerridge, and Gordon Ramsay.

Saxton has yet to announce his next move, but said he was looking forward to “sharing news of my next adventure starting shortly”.

In a post on LinkedIn, Saxton wrote: “End of an era as I walk out of Harrods for the last time since almost seven years.

“Together we have taken Harrods from an unknown restaurant entity to the biggest single site F&B operation in Europe, doubling its in store trade using just 11% more sq ft, opened over 36 restaurants in store and around the world, housed more culinary names than any other destination across the continent.

“Harrods is now and forever will be an authority in hospitality.

“The amazing leadership in the store and its owners Qatar Investment Authority plus the restaurant’s teams constant push for perfection I will be forever grateful for in backing my vision from the beginning.”

Under Saxton’s leadership, the department store has also worked with international names including Swedish chef Björn Frantzén, who ran his Studio Frantzén restaurant at Harrods from 2022 until it closed this year.

A 2023 article in The Times said Harrods’ restaurant trade had risen 44% in four years under Saxton’s direction.