Founded by hospitality duo TJ Worrall Thompson & Lexi van Breugel in 2021, Root shines a light on the up-and-coming culinary talent from across the UK. With the intense focus surrounding London’s food scene centred around head chefs and restaurant owners, the vision was to open up an avenue for the future talent in the restaurant industry to be creative, often unable to be overtly innovative in their day-to-day roles. We wanted Root to be a glimpse into the future of the individuals set to shape the UK’s culinary landscape
Our Story
Root is a platform for chefs to explore their own journeys and skills as chefs, with the opportunity to work with their desired suppliers, creating dishes displaying the UK’s most stunning, seasonal ingredients. Each chef has introduced something completely unique to the Root table, creating a personal and intimate space for our guests to enjoy an exclusive tasting menu.
TJ has lived and breathed hospitality since he was young, with both parents in the industry and he grew up in a family restaurant environment. Since moving back to London after the pandemic, he has gained valuable experience from some of the city's most exciting culinary environments including Bright and The Palomar. He currently works at Berenjak as part of the senior management team opening their new site in Mayfair in 2026.
Running these events and residencies gives TJ a chance to enjoy his favourite pastime - connecting and bringing passionate people together over the joys of good food and wine. A strong attention to detail, extensive wine knowledge and a warm and positive energy combine to put TJ at the forefront of every Root guest’s experience.
TJ
Lexi joined the hospitality industry in 2021 when she became a member of Fallow restaurant. Fallow’s focus on sustainable and conscious cooking shaped Lexi’s perspective on British produce and seasonality. Since leaving Fallow at the end of 2023, she has staged in multiple restaurants, both in the UK and South Korea, discovering her taste for unique cuisines and techniques and bringing them into her own culinary repertoire. After a brief stint at two-Michelin starred Da Terra, Lexi’s next career move takes her to Portugal, where she works at the wonderful zero-waste restaurant SEM.