head chef
Ben Wilkinson
The Pass
South Lodge, West Sussex
The Dining Duo of
Ben Wilkinson & Monika Zurawska
bring care and cohesiveness like no other restaurant
South Lodge, West Sussex
Head Chef, Ben Wilkinson
Head Chef Ben Wilkinson reopened The Pass in August 2022 bringing Michelin star success and a wealth of experience from his former Head Chef position at The Cottage in the Wood in the Lake District. Ben not only brought his talent for creating exquisite tasting menus with him, but also his partner, Monika Zurawska, who leads the front of house team to deliver exceptional service and knowledge of the menu.
Within just seven months The Pass was awarded a Michelin star and 4 AA Rosettes, a true testament to the exceptional talents of the team bot in the kitchen and front of house.
Ben’s first foray into the kitchen was two decades ago, when he began working at a golf course restaurant in Derbyshire, which then lead onto his role at The Windows at The Hilton Park Lane in London, before taking up a role in Netherlands at a boutique hotel restaurant in the Hague called Savelberg. It was here that Ben got his first taste for Michelin-level cooking. When returning to the UK he joined the team at Holbeck Ghyll in Windemere for two years, followed by a year at Daniel Clifford's Midsummer House before returning to Holbeck for another year.
Ben now joined The Pass following his success at The Cottage in the Wood, a Michelin starred restaurant with rooms in the Lake District.
A word from Ben...
After arriving in Sussex from The Lake District in August 2022, we are feeling well and truly settled at The Pass. The great connections I have made with local suppliers and the wonderful produce we have to work fills me with eagerness and enthusiasm to push the standard of the food forwards to enhance our guests experience. Achieving a Michelin star and 3 AA Rosettes within seven months, along with plenty of great feedback from guests, and lots of return visits, is a true testament to our talented team."
Ben Wilkinson