Tom Conran
A gentleman largely a part of Notting Hill’s contemporary cultural history, Tom established The Cow Saloon Bar & Dining Rooms — the fourth gastropub in England during the 90's developmental revolution observed in British pub culture.
Continuing to gather additional objectives in his career, this is a compendious summary visiting Tom’s hospitality rich experiences and inspirations composed with him, celebrating The Cow’s Silver Jubilee milestone in 2020, with new introductions.
Tom Conran. Photograph © Dearing & Flynn.
Tom Conran possesses an instinctive interest and talent in building restaurants through the influence of his travels and the Conran family’s spirited history in the world of gastronomy, precipitating him to establish a diverse portfolio of eating houses around London.
Since 1984, Tom has gathered dynamic experiences from the restaurant world, journeying from training and working hands-on inside some of the country’s prominent kitchen spaces, through to engaging in notable entrepreneurial ventures towards opening his principle establishment in 1995, The Cow Saloon Bar & Dining Rooms in Notting Hill.
After leaving school, Tom travelled to Paris in 1983, training as a chef at the École de Cuisine La Varenne. Returning to London in 1984, Tom worked and trained alongside Alastair Little on Frith Street, paving the progression towards complementary cooking experiences spread over seven years at Langan’s Brasserie, 192, Sally Clarke’s and then as General Manager of The Bibendum Oyster Bar.
Building and strengthening his foundations in the hospitality industry, Tom emerged from these developing years finding his independence in 1990, opening Tom’s Deli (since renamed, New Tom’s) on Westbourne Grove. Five years later in 1995, inspired by the hearty pub culture at home in the United Kingdom, and travels to Ireland, Belgium, Holland and Northern France; Tom presents his most prominent project creating, The Cow Saloon Bar & Dining Rooms where all elements of British pub heritage, bar lifestyles and globetrotting experiences come together.
In the year 2000, The Cow received a commendation for The Evening Standard Pub of the Year for London. With the success of two restaurants, Tom was driven, advancing in creating other eateries – Lucky Seven Diner in 2000 and Crazy Homies, a Taqueria & Margarita Lounge in 2005. Building a portfolio of restaurant establishments over the years, Tom refined his expertise as a restaurateur and facilitated the opening of two restaurants in 2005 for his father’s restaurant group, Conran Restaurants – Quaglino’s and The Bluebird Club and Dining Rooms.
The year 2020 marked a celebratory Silver Jubilee milestone for The Cow. Entering a new period with its established history, this was an anniversary to honour and introduce a supplementary dining enterprise, The Cow Comes Home. With a passionate purpose, Tom reintroduces the values and importance of regional produce and producers, reigniting the knowledge and diversity of British cuisine.
Words by H. Grace