Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Skye Gyngell, Pioneering Chef and Writer, Dies at 62 in London

Her family said the Michelin-starred advocate for produce-led, sustainable cooking died after Merkel cell carcinoma.

Overview

  • A family statement confirmed her death on November 22 in London, noting she was surrounded by loved ones.
  • She was diagnosed in 2024 with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer that had spread to her salivary glands.
  • Gyngell led Petersham Nurseries to a Michelin star in 2011, later calling the accolade a “curse,” and departed the restaurant in 2012.
  • She opened Spring at Somerset House in 2014, introduced an early single‑use‑plastic‑free kitchen, and launched the surplus‑driven Scratch menu in 2016.
  • She served as culinary director at Heckfield Place from 2012 until her death, and received tributes from peers including Jeremy Lee and Jamie Oliver.