Originally from a beautiful village, Talaván in Cáceres, Extremadura, José has now lived in London for over 20 years, and is ... often described as the Godfather of Spanish cooking in the UK. José spent his early years here working at some of London’s most prestigious Spanish restaurants including Eyre Brothers, Brindisa and Gaudi. In 2011, José opened his first solo venture, José Tapas Bar on Bermondsey Street. José Tapas Bar is small and cosy venue, inspired by the bustling tapas bars of Barcelona. The daily menu depends on what looks good at the market on the day and it also serves an array of delicious Spanish sherries to compliment the dishes. Later that year, José launched Pizarro also on Bermondsey Street. He named the restaurant after his grandfather, who had a bar called Pizarro in Talaván. The restaurant went on to earn numerous accolades including World Food Awards Restaurant of the Year, Best Mediterranean Establishment at The Food Awards London, The Rosette Awards for Culinary Excellence, Food and Travel Magazine’s Best Newcomer of the Year and Best Restaurant of the Year. Since then José has since gone on to launch two further openings in the Capital: José Pizarro at Broadgate Circle and pop-up restaurant Little José in Canary Wharf. José’s latest venture is taking over The Swan Inn in Esher. It’s always been José’s dream of owning a country pub where guests can while away the afternoons and evenings in good company next to a roaring fire. The Swan Inn will bring José’s family cooking values to Esher while maintaining a British Pub feel. The menu will include José tapas favourites to share, such as his unforgettable croquetas, tortilla and 100% 5J Jamón Ibérico. The a la carte menu will feature classic pub favourites that have been given a José twist alongside signature regional Spanish dishes using locally sourced produce. read more