About Us
The philosophy at The Betterment is simple
The name ‘The Betterment’ encapsulates Jason and his wife Irha’s journey from opening Pollen Street Social in 2011 to today, highlighting the progression of their food, ethos and way of thinking. The launch marks Jason’s return to Grosvenor Square and is a culmination of all that himself and Irha have achieved in that time.
Jason is passionate about being a restaurateur who supports those who helped him build his company in the first place . One of these people is The Betterment’s Head Chef Paul Walsh, who launched and led City Social for 5 years, winning it a Michelin-star within 7 months of opening.
Jason Atherton
Restaurateur
Jason Atherton started out working alongside great chefs including Pierre Koffmann, Marco Pierre White, Nico Ladenis and Ferran Adria at el Bulli, before joining the Gordon Ramsay Holdings in 2001 and launching ‘Maze’, first in London and then another five globally. Jason opened ‘Pollen Street Social’ in April 2011 and now runs 16 restaurants and 3 bars internationally. Jason is married to Irha Atherton who works alongside him as co-director at The Social Company. Irha also runs the head office in Soho, London. Jason has written four cookbooks, appeared on several TV programmes include the latest BBC2 series of The Chef’s Brigade. Jason and his wife Irha support numerous charities, including Hospitality Action, the MSY Charitable Foundation and the David Nichols Spinal Injury Foundation.
The team
Paul walsh
Executive Chef
Paul Walsh has spent the last 18 years working alongside many of the UK’s most respected and well-known talents in some of London’s most demanding kitchens. Paul has worked at the Savoy Grill when it reopened under the direction of Marcus Wareing, and helped it to achieve a Michelin star, the first in its 100-year history. In 2005, Paul moved to Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road, leaving in 2010 to launch the first 28-50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen, a venture from Icelandic chef Agnar Sverrisson and French master sommelier Xavier Rousset. Paul launched two further 28-50 sites before leaving to work with Jason Atherton, taking the Executive Chef position at City Social in April 2014. Three months after opening, City Social was awarded a coveted Michelin star in the 2015 Michelin Guide. Paul is now extremely excited to take the helm at The Betterment and continue his relationship and journey with Jason and The Social Company.
Tatiana Tholtova
Restaurant General Manager
Tatiana has worked for The Social Company for over 6 years and in this time, progressed professionally and personally, gaining experience working at several of Jason’s restaurants. She joined the company as Assistant Restaurant Manager of Pollen Street Social in 2013 where she worked for a year before becoming Restaurant Manager at City Social. She then moved across the pond for a year and a half where she worked as Assistant General Manager at The Clocktower, Jason’s Michelin Star restaurant in the New York Edition hotel. Before opening The Betterment, Tatiana was General Manager at both Sosharu and Social Eating House.
Stefan Kobald
Executive Head Sommelier
Stefan Kobald, originally from South Africa, began his career working for hotel properties such as the Sandton Sun and Saxon Hotel in South Africa, where he found his love for wine. In 2014, Stefan moved to the UK and started working with Jason Atherton as Sommelier at Pollen Street Social. He then quickly progressed to Head Sommelier at Social Wine and Tapas before supporting The Social Company’s Group Executive Sommelier Laure Patry as Group Head Sommelier. Stefan was then Head Sommelier at City Social. Throughout his career, he has taken part in several competitions such as the SA Chaine des Rotisseurs Jeunes Sommelier of the year where he placed 4th. As well as working as Executive Head Sommelier at The Betterment, Stefan is also preparing for his Court of Master Sommelier Master Diploma.
Would you like to join the team ?
Careers