'Giant of hospitality' Richard Shepherd dies at 77
Tributes to Shepherd from across the industry have been posted on social media, with The Ritz executive chef John Williams describing him as someone who 'always spoke from the heart to help improve the standards of hospitality' and The Michelin Guide for Great Britain & Ireland saying his influence as both chef and restaurateur on the London dining scene was 'considerable'.
In a statement, the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, of which Shepherd was a founding member, said: "It is with great sadness that we heard this morning of the death of Richard Shepherd CBE, a giant of hospitality and our honorary president."
Classically trained in the art of French cookery, Shepherd’s career began as an apprentice in 1960 at the Mount Pleasant Hotel in Worcestershire and later encompassed stints at The Savoy in London and La Reserve de Beaulieu on the French Riviera, where was the first Englishman to be a chef de partie at the restaurant.
He subsequently returned to London to cook at The Dorchester, before going on to join The Capital Hotel where, in 1974, he became one of the first British chefs to earn a Michelin star.
Shepherd's most notable move was when he helped launch Langan's Brasserie in Mayfair in 1977, introducing a menu that saw it become one of London’s most iconic celebrity haunts. Dishes included a signature spinach soufflé with anchovy sauce, which is still a fixture of the menu today.
Having initially worked alongside founders Peter Langan and Michael Caine, Shepherd went on to lead the Langan's business from the late 90s as chairman, but stepped away from the day-to-day running of the restaurant in 2012.
The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts added that Shepherd shaped the world of modern hospitality with his focus on apprenticeships and skills, of which he was a vocal advocate, and said his death was a huge loss for hospitality.
"Richard Shepherd drove the evolution of restaurants and how we eat today as a restaurateur through his iconic restaurant Langan’s."
Shepherd was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours 2000 for services to the hospitality industry.
