With six years of living and working in Dubai under his belt, Will shares why he loves this city so much
Meet Brighton native Will Stanyer who has carved an impressive path in the culinary world, with 16 years of experience that includes prestigious roles in both London and Dubai.
His career highlights include Head Chef positions at Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany and London House, followed by the acclaimed Marina Social by Jason Atherton in Dubai.
Early on, Will’s talent earned him recognition from Michelin, AA, and Waitrose Good Food guides, setting the tone for a career dedicated to delivering exceptional dining experiences with a creative edge.
Will’s passion for culinary exploration took him to Scandinavia, where he spent three months immersing himself in the region’s diverse cuisine.
During this journey, he collaborated with top chefs in Michelin-starred restaurants, gaining a fresh perspective on traditional techniques and contemporary flavors.
This Scandinavian chapter broadened his culinary repertoire and inspired him to integrate these influences into his cooking style.
Since moving to Dubai in 2018, Will has continued to make a mark, first at award-winning Marina Social, and then at Cloud 22 in Atlantis The Royal.
Currently, he’s leading pre-opening efforts for several restaurants at One & Only One Za’abeel, including StreetXO, Sagetsu, Sphere, and Aelia.
Now, as Head Chef at The Spaniel, Will is bringing his expertise to British cuisine, crafting a menu that blends timeless classics with modern twists, promising guests an unforgettable dining experience defined by his signature quality and passion.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I am from Brighton, UK originally and have been cooking for 16 years, currently working as the Head Chef of The Spaniel British Brasserie.
Six of those years now have been in Dubai and I have loved every moment of it here.
Being able to work doing something I love is a blessing and my job has taken me around the world – I consider myself very lucky in this respect, and travelling is my favourite pastime.
I live here with my wife Noemi who is also in the hospitality industry, along with our soon to arrive baby boy, Oliver.
How and when did you move here, and what inspired the move?
I moved here in October 2018 – not long after I had completed a three-month trip across Scandinavia where I spent my time working as a stagiaire across some of the best, Michelin starred and internationally recognised restaurants.
This trip whetted my appetite for travel, so when the opportunity came to move to Dubai, I grabbed it with both hands and have never looked back since!
How has living in Dubai shaped your sense of belonging and community?
Moving to Dubai from London, I was expecting a bit of a culture shock, but actually Dubai was nothing quite like I expected it to be – the diversity and acceptance of different cultures here has always amazed me, and I think it truly enriches us as individuals and communities.
It’s one of the highlights of living in Dubai, I would say, being able to immerse yourself in a community made up of such diversity.
Can you tell us about a particular person in Dubai who has had a significant impact on your life and why?
If I had to choose one person, it would of course have to be my wife!
We met here in Dubai and got married a couple of years later in Abu Dhabi.
She is my biggest supporter and has given me such trust and encouragement in both my personal and professional life, it would all be so much harder without her.
Professionally, working alongside Jason Atherton for the first three years at Marina Social was undoubtedly a highlight of my career – he really helped me to grow as a chef, and I learned a lot during that time; I am always grateful for this.
What is your favourite thing about the emirate and why?
Well apart from the weather (I really do not miss the rain!), I might have to say the geographic location.
I love to travel, and Dubai positions me so well to do so – never too far away from anywhere, should I need a quick trip back home, or to explore more of Asia, I think Dubai is the perfect place to live for anyone who loves to travel and explore.
A myth about Dubai that you would like to bust
So, for sure before I moved here, a lot of my friends back home seemed to be of the opinion that Dubai would not be so ‘free’ and that perhaps there would be restrictions on how I might choose to live my life, but I learned very quickly this is not true!
Dubai has been so giving for me, it’s been an amazing place to live and a place where you can do as you wish while being surrounded by a respectful community & it is by far the safest place I have ever been anywhere in the world.
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Could you share a memorable moment when you felt the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Dubai community in your own life?
I would have to say it was after I got married to my wife Noemi – we had a small get together with some friends, many of whom I had not met before from her side, and the sense of warmth and togetherness was amazing.
Many of our guests were Filipinos, so it goes without saying there was plenty of food that day – everyone had chipped in to bring something along, and I think there was probably enough leftovers to keep us all going for another week after the party had finished! Great sense of community, a night I’ll always remember.
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