Atul Kochhar

What Atul Kochhar does

Atul Kochhar is a UK-based chef brand and restaurant group built around a single named principal - twice Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar - who moved from India to the UK in 1994 after working at The Oberoi Hotel Group. The operational business comprises eight Indian restaurants across England (Kanishka in Mayfair; Sindhu and Vaasu in Marlow; Essence at The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells; Riwaz in Beaconsfield; Indian Essence in Petts Wood; Masalchi in Wembley Park; Hawkyns at The Crown Inn in Amersham), a nationwide catering arm (AMOD Events) serving weddings, corporate hospitality and charity events, and an e-commerce line of six signed cookbooks priced between £15-26.

The commercial model is fully direct-to-consumer across three revenue streams: (1) per-cover fine-dining transaction fees across eight owned restaurant locations, (2) quote-based professional-services revenue from AMOD Events catering for groups (reservations accept 5-22 guests; events scale from intimate to large), and (3) one-time unit sales of signed cookbooks via owned storefront. Pricing for restaurant covers and catered events is not publicly disclosed; gift cards and dining experience vouchers add a secondary e-commerce channel. The segmentation approach is horizontal, spanning individual premium diners (primary), corporate and event clients, and home cooks consuming recipe content and cookbooks.

Marketing is predominantly owned-channel: the atulkochhar.com website, an active blog and recipe library, Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/YouTube, and earned media through recurring TV appearances (BBC Saturday Kitchen, ITV James Martin Saturday Morning, Great British Menu). Distribution is concentrated in England, with UK-restricted operations and no global footprint claim. The structural risk is concentration of brand equity in a single individual, and the corresponding opportunity is institutionalisation of the brand through the wider restaurant group, AMOD Events, the cookbook catalogue, and institutional affiliations (RACA, Hospitality Action).

Name

Atul Kochhar

Legal name

Atul Kochhar

Website

https://atulkochhar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Atul Kochhar is a twice Michelin-starred chef-led restaurant group operating eight UK Indian fine-dining venues, a nationwide catering service (AMOD Events), and an e-commerce cookbook line, serving individual diners, event clients, and home cooks seeking modern Indian cuisine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indian Fine Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Dietary Catering (Halal, Kosher, Vegan, Allergen-Free, Medical) (THAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Indian fine dining
• Restaurant operations
• Bespoke event catering
• Cookbook publishing
• Culinary experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Mayfair, London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining: Fine dining experiences across 8 restaurant locations in the UK including Mayfair, Marlow, Tunbridge Wells, Beaconsfield, Petts Wood, Wembley Park, and Amersham
2. AMOD Events Catering: Nationwide bespoke catering service for weddings, corporate hospitality, charitable events, offering Atul Kochhar's Indian cuisine for small to large groups
3. Cookbook Sales: Sale of signed cookbooks including 30 Minute Curries, Curry Everyday, Indian Essence, Fish Indian Style, Curries of the World, and Simple Indian

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Atul Kochhar is a twice Michelin-starred chef operating a portfolio of eight modern Indian restaurants across the UK, complemented by a nationwide catering service (AMOD Events) for weddings and corporate events, signed cookbook sales, and gift card experiences. The offering centres on premium Indian gastronomy that combines traditional regional Indian techniques with British produce and finest Indian spices.

Product overview

Atul Kochhar operates a portfolio of Indian restaurants across the UK, including Indian Essence (Petts Wood), Sindhu and Vaasu (Marlow), Hawkyns (Amersham), Essence (Tunbridge Wells), Riwaz (Beaconsfield), Masalchi (Wembley Park), and Kanishka (Mayfair). The restaurant group also includes AMOD Events, a nationwide catering service for weddings and corporate events. Additionally, Atul Kochhar offers signed cookbooks including Curry Everyday, 30 Minute Curries, Indian Essence, Fish Indian Style, Curries of the World, and Simple Indian, enabling home cooks to recreate his modern Indian cuisine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indian Essence

Quantifiable outcome

• First Indian chef to receive a Michelin star
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Galton BlackistonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2025Norfolk-born Michelin-starred chef who has retained a star at Morston Hall since 1999. Without formal training, Blackiston rose from market stall to renowned chef, authoring successful cookbooks and appearing on British television.
• Sagar MasseyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2024Finalist in MasterChef: The Professionals 2022, Sagar Massey has honed skills at Isle of Eriska Hotel & Spa and Mar Hall Hotel & Spa. Participated in MasterChef Professional Dinner Series at Riwaz.
• Claire LaraflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2024First female winner of MasterChef: The Professionals (2010), Claire Lara has cooked for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Raymond Blanc, and judged for Comic Relief 2011 in Downing Street. Participated in MasterChef Professional Dinner Series at Riwaz Restaurant Beaconsfield.
• Tom BrownflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2024Chef Patron of Cornerstone in Hackney Wick and Pearly Queen in Shoreditch. Tom Brown, a Cornish chef who earned Michelin star at Cornerstone in 2021 after working with Nathan Outlaw, collaborated for Four Hands experience.
• Crystelle PereiraflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2024Finalist on The Great British Bake Off, Crystelle Pereira joined Atul Kochhar for Sunday Supperclub series at Kanishka. Born in North London to Kenyan-born, Portuguese-Goan parents, she created a unique five-course menu showcasing recipes inspired by her heritage.
• Adam HandlingflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2024Michelin-starred chef Adam Handling joined Atul Kochhar for Four Hands dining experience at Kanishka. Adam brought his passion for outstanding British food, sustainability and fighting food waste, executed with innovative Modern British cooking at his Michelin-starred flagship restaurant Frog by Adam Handling.
• Anna HaughflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Chef from Myrtle Restaurant visited Kanishka for Sunday Supper Club, entertaining sold-out restaurant with her passion and attention to detail for Irish cuisine.
• Lillian LukflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2024Shanghainese cooking expert joined Atul Kochhar for Sunday Supperclub series at Kanishka. Her four-course menu showcased lesser-known foods from Shanghai and favourites from her successful Shanghai Supper Club, all with an Indo-Chinese twist.
• Nigel HaworthflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2024Michelin-starred chef Nigel Haworth joined Atul Kochhar for Four Hands dining experience at Kanishka. Haworth previously held Head Chef position at Northcote Manor for over three decades and now runs The Three Fishes in Mitton.
• Anna HaughflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2024Chef from Myrtle Restaurant visited Kanishka for Sunday Supper Club, entertaining sold-out restaurant with Irish charm and cuisine expertise.
• Ashok KumarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Executive Chef at Kanishka, Ashok Kumar was selected to compete on BBC's Great British Menu 2024 for London and Southeast England region. Has over 15 years experience in hospitality, working at Taj Hotels, Hilton, Crowne Plaza, and previously at Benares Michelin-starred restaurant.
• Romy GillflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2023British/Indian chef, food writer, author and broadcaster, Romy Gill was appointed an MBE in the Queen's 90th Birthday honours list. Has published two cookbooks and appeared on television and radio. Visited Kanishka for Sunday Supper Club.
• Restaurant PropertycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant Property, London agents working specifically in UK Leisure & Hospitality Industry. David Rawlinson and Atul have worked symbiotically for over 16 years, with Restaurant Property instrumental in delivering 3 of Atul's 10 restaurant sites in the UK, including Kanishka. Atul would not hesitate to recommend them to any operator or Landlord.
• Michelin-starred Chef CollaboratorsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChefs including Roy Ner, Michael Caines, Lisa Allen, Jun Tanaka, Angela Hartnett, Aktar Islam, Tom Kitchin, Ollie Dabbous, and Sriram Aylur have or will cook alongside Atul Kochhar for Four Hands series.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hawksmoor: Hawksmoor is a premium UK restaurant group operating multiple steakhouse sites across London and other cities. It shares Atul Kochhar's positioning as a chef-led UK premium-dining group with national recognition and a comparable site count.
• D&D London: D&D London operates a portfolio of premium restaurants and event spaces across London including venues in Le Pont de la Tour, Bluebird, and Skylon. It is a broader incumbent in the UK premium dining and events segment that overlaps with AMOD Events on the events side.
• The Ivy Collection: The Ivy Collection operates a portfolio of premium brasserie-style restaurants across the UK. It is a broader incumbent in UK premium casual dining with overlapping target customer and geographic footprint, though not Indian-cuisine focused.

Direct peers

• Hoppers: Hoppers is a Sri Lankan and South Indian restaurant concept operated by JKS Restaurants in London. It directly competes for the same premium South Asian diner as several Atul Kochhar venues.
• Darjeeling Express: Darjeeling Express is Asma Khan's chef-driven Indian restaurant in Covent Garden, London. Comparable to Atul Kochhar as another chef-founder-led Indian dining concept with strong media presence, cookbook authorship, and premium positioning.
• Dishoom: Dishoom operates a chain of Indian restaurants across major UK cities with a premium-casual positioning. It shares Atul Kochhar's multi-site UK operating model and target market of diners seeking high-quality Indian cuisine outside of traditional curry-house formats.
• JKS Restaurants: JKS Restaurants operates a portfolio of Indian-focused fine dining venues in the UK including Gymkhana, Trishna, Chutney Mary, and Hoppers. It is the most directly comparable chef-driven Indian restaurant group operating multiple premium sites in London and beyond.
• The Cinnamon Collection: The Cinnamon Collection operates Vivek Singh's restaurants including The Cinnamon Club and Cinnamon Kitchen, a chef-led Indian fine dining group based in London with similar premium positioning and a single-brand identity tied to the founding chef.
• Tamarind Restaurant: Tamarind is an Indian fine dining restaurant located in Mayfair, London — the same neighborhood as Kanishka. It directly competes for the same premium Indian diner in central London.

Emerging players

• Kricket: Kricket is an Indian restaurant group with multiple London locations offering modern Indian cuisine. It operates at a smaller scale than Atul Kochhar's eight-site estate but targets a similar modern-Indian-dining customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chefatulkochhar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@atulkochhar2870/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/chefatulkochhar
• Instagraminstagram.com/chefatulkochhar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atul-kochhar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atul Kochhar