Rob Palmer

The Path

Baking with his mother and grandmother gave Rob Palmer an early grounding in the craft: how to mix, how to wait, and how to read flavour before formal training starts. That kitchen education carried into professional cooking, where he spent his teenage years balancing college with an apprenticeship at Hilton Birmingham Metropole in Birmingham. The setting was practical and exacting, and it set the tone for the way he would work: disciplined, service-minded, and rooted in Modern British cuisine. Martyn was the chef who influenced him the most. Rob’s career moved through kitchens in a steady sequence, each role adding control, pace and precision to the work. He began as chef apprentice at Hilton Birmingham Metropole by the NEC in Birmingham, then moved on to become junior at The Forest Hotel in Dorridge, Solihull, before taking on the role of Executive Chef at The Forest Hotel in Dorridge, Solihull. From there, his path continued to Peel's at Hampton Manor in Hampton Manor, near Solihull, where he worked as Junior Sous Chef from 2009 and later Head Chef from 2014. He went on to serve as Executive Chef at Hogarth's in Solihull, building on a career shaped by exacting standards and a clear culinary identity. Today, Rob is owner of Toff's (since 2022) and Executive Chef of Ansty Hall.

The Work Today

At Toff's by Rob Palmer in Solihull, a role he has held since 2022, the cooking is direct and considered. The point is not decoration but clarity: dishes grounded in Modern British cuisine, with classic flavours handled through a contemporary lens. British and local produce matter here, but the standard remains the same — the best ingredients available, used in a way that lets them carry the plate without overstatement.

In Their Words “It’s really important to use British and local produce wherever possible but the priority is to use the best ingredients available.” “I love Modern British cuisine, using classic flavours and then incorporating a modern twist.”

Acclaim

Rob's honors include Michelin star (2016), 3 AA Rosettes (2024), and 4 AA Rosettes.