Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars appoints new director of F&B

Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars has announced the senior appointment of Nicholas Durham as its new director of food and beverage.

Durham now leads the hotel’s dining outlets, including the celebrated Chinese Cricket Club, NYnLON, Leaf & Cane bar and City Lounge.

In his new role, Durham will oversee three kitchen teams and the overall service experience, focusing on pushing the hotel’s F&B offering to the next level following its formative years since opening.

He aims to bring the character of each of the hotel’s dining outlets to life while also developing the private dining opportunities available across the hotel. With extensive experience in events and large banqueting operations, Durham will further enhance the hotel’s luxury F&B experiences in the heart of the City of London.

In line with the ongoing development of Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars’ F&B landscape, Aiden Page has been appointed as the new food and beverage operations manager, bringing experience from his recent role as bar manager at Shangri-La The Shard. 

Durham's vision for Hyatt's F&B

Durham joins Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars following a stint at the five-star Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh, where he served as director of F&B. His new role sees him return to London, where he held prior F&B leadership roles at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. 

Since joining the team in late 2024, Durham has already had an impact. Chinese Cricket Club, for example, was recently awarded two AA Rosettes. To honour this accolade, the restaurant launched the Rose Set Menu, showcasing head chef Tony Truong’s take on classic Chinese cuisine, including the showstopping Smoked Peking Duck.

Looking ahead, Durham is set to implement a series of enhancements across the hotel’s F&B offering. NYnLON will introduce a refreshed seasonal menu featuring premium takes on transatlantic favourites, including the lobster and crayfish roll and Devon crab linguine. The restaurant’s wine list will also be reimagined with an emphasis on American and British wines. Leaf & Cane will see the launch of Tommy Tuesdays, where guests can enjoy a lively pairing of tacos and Tommy’s margaritas, featuring signature flavours such as peach salsa and smoked halloumi.

“I am thrilled to have joined the team at Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars and lead the incredible food & beverage outlets to new heights," says Durham. 

"The brands within this hotel have unique stories to tell, and with such a diverse range of offerings, the sky truly is the limit. My goal is to establish these outlets as some of the City of London’s favourites by creating unforgettable dining experiences and continuing to push the boundaries of culinary excellence. I look forward to working with all members of the Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars team to achieve this vision in 2025 and beyond,”

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