Dom Taylor, the TV chef who won Channel 4's Five Star Kitchen: Britain's Next Great Chef in 2023, has died suddenly, his team announced on July 14, 2026. He was 45 years old. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and the statement requested that everyone respect the privacy of his loved ones.
Restaurant announcement and tributes
Taylor's restaurant, The Good Front Room, posted a statement on Instagram: 'We are deeply saddened to share the news of the sudden passing of our founder, Chef Dom Taylor. Dom was a visionary whose bold, joyful approach to celebrating the Caribbean cuisine of his childhood brought a fresh and exciting voice to London’s restaurant scene.' The statement added that the restaurant will remain open to honor his legacy.
Condolences poured in from fellow chefs and friends. Chef and food writer Melissa Thompson wrote: 'Sending love and strength to the team. Dom was a very special person.' Chef brothers Craig and Shaun McAnuff commented: 'Heartbreaking news. A true pioneer, truly lost for words. Prayers to his family.'
Career highlights
Taylor won Channel 4's Five Star Kitchen in 2023, which also aired on Netflix as Five Star Chef, earning the opportunity to open a restaurant in London's five-star Langham hotel. Earlier this year, he opened The Good Front Room at a permanent site in Dalston, offering reimagined and elevated Caribbean cuisine.
In an interview with Delicious magazine, Taylor cited judge Michel Roux Jr. as one of his culinary inspirations. He said of his time on the show: 'I didn’t expect my creativity to catch fire in the way it did. I was sitting in a creative space and my mind just went berserk. It was insane. I loved who I became. It was my new favourite version of myself.'
Personal reflections
Last year, Taylor told The Staff Canteen: 'My mum’s Jamaican and my dad’s St Lucian, and food was everything in our family. It was how we expressed love, how we connected.' In summer 2023, he celebrated his 42nd birthday, writing on Instagram: 'What a birthday! The biggest present. The love. The words. The last few weeks. The support. The community. You guys! Thank you. You are the best gift.'
Judge Ravneet Gill posted a tribute: 'I’m incredibly saddened to hear the news about dear Chef Dom Taylor. Dom was warm, intelligent and full of depth. Even when he wasn’t talking about happy things, he somehow always seemed to be smiling.' Relationships expert Paul Brunson also shared: 'Dom, thank you for every meal, every welcome, every smile and every act of kindness.'
