Since growing up in his parents’ guesthouse in Southampton, Paul Ainsworth has spent a lifetime in hospitality. Watching and helping his parents at work, he developed a strong sense of hard work from the outset. His career that ensued, leading him from Southampton to London to Cornwall, demonstrates both his drive and determination to succeed – a success which would not have been possible without the loving and professional support of his wife and business partner Emma Ainsworth and their two daughters Aricie (born 2016) and Audrey Bloom (born 2024).
On leaving school, Paul studied catering and hospitality at Southampton City College, working locally at The Star Hotel, and at Careys Manor in the New Forest where he enhanced his passion for learning. In 1998, Paul achieved his first big break when his college tutor helped him to secure a job at Gary Rhodes’ Michelin-starred Rhodes in the Square in London.
After two fulfilling years, Paul moved on to work with leading British Chef Gordon Ramsay at his three Michelin-starred restaurant on Royal Hospital Road. While working at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Paul was part of the team that achieved three stars for the revered establishment. An opportunity to work for fellow Gordon Ramsay Chef Marcus Wareing at Pétrus in St James’ arose in 2003, and Paul relocated to The Berkeley with him later that year.
After six years with Gordon Ramsay Holdings, Paul was invited to head up the kitchen of No6 in Padstow. Four years later, in 2009, Paul and his wife Emma took over the restaurant from their business partner Derek Mapp and relaunched it as Paul Ainsworth at No6, winning a Michelin star in 2013, one of his proudest moments to date. Above the restaurant is a relaxed bar, CiCi’s, open to all (not exclusively No6 diners) and named after Paul and Emma’s first born daughter.
In 2011, Paul and Emma acquired Rojano’s (which was originally opened in 1974 by local businessman Stanley Rojano), and, with a nod to mentor Gary Rhodes, relaunched it as Rojano’s in the Square. In 2020 Paul and Emma purchased the freehold to the restaurant and carried out a full rebrand, renaming it Caffè Rojano by Paul Ainsworth. They introduced a Mediterranean-style menu and bold new look, inspired by a visit to Caffe Donte during a family trip to New York.
Padstow Townhouse launched in 2016 – a boutique hotel comprising 6 uniquely designed suites with luxury bathrooms, a kitchen pantry and in-room spa treatments available. The 18th-century building just up the road from Paul Ainsworth at No6 was lovingly restored by Emma and interior designer Eve Cullen-Cornes, helping to cement Paul and Emma’s positions as celebrated restaurateurs and hoteliers.
In May 2019, Paul and Emma reopened Rock institution The Mariners Public House following a dramatic refurbishment. It was awarded ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2020 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs Awards, as well as entering the Top 50 list at number 23, then climbing to 3rd position in 2024. The Mariners also won ‘Best Pub’ at the 2020 GQ Food and Drink Awards.
In July 2019, Paul celebrated two prestigious wins at The Cateys for ‘Restaurateur of the Year – Independent’ and the ‘Chef Award’. In addition, Paul Ainsworth at No6 placed number 16 in the Top 100 Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards.
In 2021 Paul launched a podcast called Knives, Forks and Tunes, where he brought together the three key ingredients for the ultimate dinner party: the menu, the music and the conversation, and interviewed famous guests such as Jamie Cullen and Janette Manrara.
July 2024 saw the release of Paul’s debut cookbook, For the Love of Food. Inspired by the culinary memories that have made up his life, each segment explores a different chapter of his journey and the restaurants that have helped him grow. From land to sea, the book has comforting classics covered, in addition to showstoppers reminiscent of his work at
Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No6.
In January 2025, Paul and Emma announced the acquisition of St Enodoc Hotel in Rock, Cornwall. The boutique property is the only hotel in Rock and comprises 21 rooms, a restaurant and beauty rooms.
Paul and Emma are ambassadors for the Cornwall Air Ambulance and work with a number of other charities including Hospitality Action and Springboard. In 2019 Paul ran the Virgin Money London Marathon, raising over £47,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of his late father. In September 2024 he successfully completed his first-ever triathlon, participating in the Ironman 70.3 Zell am See in Austria. After months of intense training, Paul not only finished the gruelling event but also surpassed his ambitious fundraising target of £50,000 for the Children’s Cancer Fund.
An employer of over 150 team members across his venues, Paul is committed to helping others to thrive within the industry. In 2018 Paul launched the Paul Ainsworth Academy in partnership with Truro & Penwith College, offering hospitality students paid experience across all five of the businesses.
A charismatic and engaging chef, Paul’s personality and cooking attracts publicity. He appeared on BBC2’s Great British Menu in 2011 and won the South West regional heat, which resulted in him serving his dessert at the final banquet at Leadenhall Market, London. He has since been on Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch, MasterChef, ITV’s This Morning, The One Show and James Martin’s Saturday Morning. In 2017 Paul co-presented the royal-themed cooking programme, Royal Recipes, as well as BBC1’s The Best Christmas Food Ever the following year. In January 2023, Paul joined ITV show Next Level Chef as a judge alongside Gordon Ramsay and Nyesha Arrington.
Paul is a brand ambassador for BMW, HexClad and Kamado Joe.
