Jordan Bailey and Majken Bech-Bailey have announced that they will be leaving Aimsir, the acclaimed restaurant that they established in County Kildare, Ireland.
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The pair met while Cornish-born Bailey, then employed at Nottingham’s Sat Bains, was dining at Henne Kirkeby Kro, a two Michelin star restaurant in Denmark where the future Bech-Bailey worked in front of house.
They moved to Ireland in 2018 and the following year opened Aimsir (operated by Cliff Group), with Bailey in the kitchen and Bech-Bailey heading up front of house. Within five months, they had achieved two star status in the Michelin Guide, a sudden success almost without precedent. Much of the focus of the menu was on Irish produce, particularly that from the grounds of the Cliff at Lyons estate where the restaurant is located, and the guide noted the “real depth” of the its “superbly balanced, original dishes”, and the “infectious pride” of the “delightful service team”.
However, despite retaining the coveted stars in the intervening years, this power couple of Ireland’s restaurant scene will be moving onto pastures new in the spring.
In a statement shared on social media, Bailey said: “Since our first days here, my wife and I have married and had a baby girl and fallen in love with Ireland but, although the current team at Aimsir is the finest I have ever worked with and I am immensely proud of what our team delivers every service, we both feel the time is right to move on.”
“We both know exactly what we want to do next in Ireland,” the statement continued, “and hope to announce that later in the year. We would like to thank all of our exceptional team who have worked with us at Aimsir since we opened, and all our wonderful guests, friends and suppliers. Majken and myself have received nothing but widespread welcome, positivity and support since we came to Ireland, something we have appreciated more than I can ever say, and we look forward to our next chapter in this country.”
Bailey’s final day of service at the restaurant will be Saturday 15 April.
In related news: Mark Sargeant closes restaurant just six months after opening
This article was originally published by the drinks business and has been shared with permission.
