Romy Gill MBE Joins The Pem in Westminster
This autumn, one of Britain’s most recognised Indian chefs begins a new chapter in the heart of Westminster.
Romy Gill MBE is taking over The Pem at Conrad London St. James, bringing her distinctive approach to regional Indian cooking to the restaurant. It is Romy’s first permanent kitchen in six years and a major moment for both her career and The Pem.
Meet Romy Gill MBE
Romy is a chef, broadcaster and three-time cookbook author whose cooking is rooted in the places, people and flavours that have shaped her life.
Born in West Bengal, she has travelled extensively across India, exploring the regional dishes, ingredients and traditions that continue to inspire her work. Her cooking is personal and generous, bringing together memories from home with ideas gathered throughout her travels.
At The Pem, guests will experience that story through food designed to be shared around the table.
What to expect from the menu
The menu will explore the breadth of regional Indian cooking, drawing inspiration from Punjab and Bengal, the coastal flavours of Kerala and the spice traditions of Rajasthan.
Expect rich curries, smoky grills, slow-braised dishes and sharing plates, alongside new creations informed by Romy’s travels and the women who taught her to cook.
““I want The Pem to feel lively and full of energy. The kind of restaurant where people stay longer than they planned, order another dish because the table next to them had it, and leave already thinking about when they’re coming back. That’s how I love to eat, and that’s what I want to create here.””
The next chapter for The Pem
The Pem has always celebrated women who do things in their own way.
The restaurant takes its name from suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, who was known as Pem by her family. Its feather emblem, inspired by Davison’s feather boa, represents courage, creative expression and female authorship.
Romy’s arrival feels like a natural continuation of that story. Her cooking brings together heritage, experience and a clear point of view, giving The Pem a new culinary identity while remaining connected to the values behind its name.
““The Pem has always evolved through the people leading it, and each chapter has brought something different to the restaurant. Romy takes it somewhere we’ve never been before. We knew very quickly that she was the right person for this next chapter.””
Bringing Romy Gill at The Pem to life
Toast PR & Marketing Studio is working with Romy Gill, The Pem and Conrad London St. James to introduce the new restaurant to London.
Our integrated launch campaign brings together PR, influencer engagement, social media, CRM, digital marketing and creative storytelling. The focus is on building Romy’s story across every channel, creating anticipation ahead of the launch and giving guests a reason to follow the journey from the first announcement to their first meal.
Romy Gill at The Pem opens at Conrad London St. James in autumn 2026.
