Hot Dinners Murphia List celebrates Irish talent in London
UK dining publication Hot Dinners has revealed its annual Murphia List - a celebration of Irish talent in London's hospitality industry.
Celebrating its 12th year, the coveted list recognises the talent of Irish people working behind the scenes and front of house, whether they be a particularly charming doorman or a soaring CEO.
The Murphia List 2026, which this year has a new partner in Irish butter royalty, Kerrygold, has announced 11 new entries, with a total of 76 names altogether.
Denis Shankey
New to the list this year is chef Denis Shankey, from Michelin-starred restaurant Portland. He joins his brothers, who are already on the list. Muireach and Eoghan Shankey own Walthamstow pub The Raglan and Hackney restaurant Shankeys, respectively.
Other connected families include Daniel Haugh and his cousin, new MasterChef judge Anna Haugh, along with the Corrigans - restaurateur Richard and his son Richie, the managing director of the company.
"It's always so interesting putting this list together every year," says Hot Dinners co-founder (and second-generation Irish) Catherine Hanly, "to see how many Irish people are working at the top level in hospitality in London, opening restaurants, running pubs, importing wine and leading kitchen teams. Their contribution to this city's dining and drinking scene is immense."
The Hot Dinners Murphia List 2026 in partnership with Kerrygold:
2026 Chefs
NEW: Denis Shankey - Head Chef, Portland
NEW: Sasha Brent - Head Chef, Crispin
NEW: Lawrence Barrow - pop-up chef and Great British Menu 2026 contestant
NEW: Beth O'Brien - Senior Sous Chef, The Fat Badger
Fionnan Flood - Group Head Chef, Richoux Restaurants
Anna Haugh - Chef Patron, Myrtle Restaurant and MasterChef judge
Christina Blevins - Head Chef, Row on 5
Luke Ahearne - Chef/Partner, Motorino
Clare Smyth MBE - Chef Patron, Core by Clare Smyth and Corenucopia
Kate O'Sullivan - Head of Pastry, Osteria Vibrato
Paddy Maher - Head Chef, Island
Conor Gadd - Chef, Co-Owner of Trullo and Founder of Burro
Patrick Powell - Culinary Director, One Club Row and The Knave of Clubs
Richard Corrigan - Chef Patron of Corrigan Collection
Hugh Corcoran - Chef and Co-owner, The Yellow Bittern
Niamh Larkin - Executive Pastry Chef, 45 Park Lane and CUT
Diarmuid Goodwin, pop-up chef
Max Rocha - Chef Owner, Café Cecilia
Kenneth Culhane - Head Chef, The Dysart
Nick Fitzgerald - Chef Patron, Tacos Padre
Colin Kelly - Head Chef, The Twenty Two
Fiona Hannon - Head Chef, Daffodil Mulligan
Dave McCarthy - Head Chef, Scott's Mayfair
Brian Hennessy - Head Chef, Landmark London
Beth O'Brien
Restaurateurs
Daniel Haugh - Co-owner and Manager, Myrtle
Lynsey Coughlan - Co-founder, Inis
Eoghan Shankey - Co-owner, Shankeys
John Devitt - Owner, Koya
Robin and Sarah Gill - Restaurateurs and Chef, Sorella, Darby's and Bottle & Rye
Brian Hannon - Restaurateur, Super 8 Restaurants
John Nugent - CEO, Green & Fortune
Ian Duignan and Jay Bradley - Co-owners, Boha
David Moore - Founding Director, Pied à Terre
Emma Moran - Co-founder, Emerald Eats
Pubs & Bars
NEW: Nick and Peter O'Halloran - Owners, Nancy Spains
Oisin Rogers - Co-owner and Pub Landlord, The Devonshire
Muireach Shankey - Co-owner, The Raglan
Nobuko Okamura - Wine Manager, Farm Shop Mayfair
Gearoid Devaney - Founder, The Black Book
Aaron Wall - Owner, Homeboy and The Prince
Ciaran Smith - Owner, The Bottle Cocktail Shop & Bar
Conor Daly - Head of Ops, Ardent Pubs
Nancy Spains
Cafes and bakeries
James Hennebry - Co-founder, Rosslyn Coffee
Sarah Fox - Head Pastry Chef, N5 Kitchen
Ciara O'Shea and Ken Nally - Owners, F. Mondays
Dee Rettali - Owner, Fortitude Bakehouse
Producers
NEW: Kevin Boyle, Owner, Wine Vistas
Steve Ryan - Food Photographer; Founder of Root + Bone & 40FT Brewery and Director, Acme Fire Cult.
Simon Lamont - Owner, Rocks Oysters
Xander Fallon
Front of house
NEW: Xander Fallon - GM, Impala
NEW: Ciarán Bagchus - Assistant Head Somm, Bonheur by Matt Abé
NEW: Michael Hagen - Head Concierge, Four Seasons
Jason Patrick Glynn - GM, The Sun and 13 Cantons
Sean Devoren - Head Butler, The Dorchester
Sean McDermott - Head Doorman, Scott's
Niall Harte - GM, One Club Row
Michael Lynch - Head Butler, Claridge's
Olivia McGowan - Assistant GM, Bonheur by Matt Abé
Isabella Condon - Assistant Manager, The Dorchester
Behind the scenes
NEW: Stephen Moran - Head of Comms, Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch
Paul McKenna - MD, Red Branch Hospitality
Shayne Brady - Founder and Creative Director, STUDIO Shayne Brady
Richie Corrigan - MD, The Corrigan Collection
Joe Warwick - Head of Hospitality, The Public House Group
Shane McHugh - Group Wine Buyer, Goodman Restaurant Holdings Ltd
Tommy Cummins - Ops Manager, The Umbrella Project
Sean Deane - Market Specialist, Bord Bia
Fergal Lee - Director of Operations, The Wolseley Hospitality Group
Darren McHugh - Head of Operations, Chef Tom Sellers’ restaurants
Molly Hutchinson - Founder, MIAM Management & Sarnie Party, Event Director of Meatopia
Sinead Mallozzi - CEO, sketch
James Goggin - Founder, Barrel Aged Consultancy
