Chef Dom Taylor dies as heartfelt tributes pour in for The Good Front Room founder
The London-born chef of Jamaican and Saint Lucian heritage is being remembered for his warmth, creativity and lasting contribution to Caribbean cuisine in Britain
Award-winning chef Dom Taylor, renowned for championing Caribbean cuisine through his acclaimed restaurant The Good Front Room, has died.
Described as “devastated”, Dom’s family are mourning his passing as heartfelt tributes continue to pour in from friends, creatives, media professionals, hospitality figures and across Black communities.
News of his death began to emerge late on Sunday evening.
Among those paying tribute are comedian Judi Love, TV personality Paul Carrick Brunson, presenter Angellica Bell, artist Yvadney Davis, Labour MP Florence Eshalomi, broadcaster Andi Oliver, journalist and filmmaker Afua Hirsch and PR consultant Ronke Lawal.
In a statement, The Good Front Room said: “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.
“His passion, talent and generosity touched so many people, and his legacy will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him and experiencing his food.
“He will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched during this incredibly difficult time. We kindly ask that everyone respects the privacy of Dom’s loved ones at this time.”
Chef and writer Melissa Thompson described Dom as “a beautiful human and an incredible chef” who “told stories through his food with humour and warmth”.
She added: “When the first Caribbean restaurant gets a Michelin star, Dom will have played a massive part in it.
“Even the fact that’s a possibility now - unthinkable even 10 years ago - has a lot to do with Dom and what he proved could happen when island food gets the platform it deserves.”
Journalist and filmmaker Afua Hirsch wrote: “I am so heartbroken to hear this. He was such light.”
PR consultant Ronke Lawal said: “There’s something sacred about being invited to break bread at one’s table.
“Something special about a desire so compelling to feed us and nourish us. He did that with much enthusiasm and we responded with collective joy.
“May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort.”
The London-born chef, whose full name was Dominic, was of Jamaican and Saint Lucian heritage and rose to national prominence after winning Channel 4’s Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef.
His prize saw him launch The Good Front Room at The Langham in London, where he introduced his distinctive take on Caribbean fine dining to one of the capital’s most prestigious hotels.
Long before his television success, many south Londoners knew Dom through his residency at Fourteen87 in Catford, where he built a loyal following and refined many of the dishes that would later become synonymous with his cooking.
Reflecting on that chapter of his career in 2023, Dom said he had gained “a lot of knowledge” during his time there and “fine-tuned a lot of my Caribbean dishes”.
Throughout his career, Dom championed Caribbean cuisine at the highest levels of British hospitality, drawing on his Jamaican and Saint Lucian heritage to tell stories through food.
His work earned widespread acclaim for showcasing Caribbean flavours while remaining rooted in heritage, family and tradition.
This story is developing.
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Rest well Chef Dom, you will be missed🙏🏾🕯️🖤💐 Thankful to have experienced The Good Front Room on a couple of occasions was awesome👏🏽👏🏽 Chef Don pinned my now defunct IG account comment "The Ancestors are smiling" re The Good Front Room, they're welcoming you now 🙏🏾💐🖤🕯️