McDaid’s journey in hospitality began at the age of 15, when his father encouraged him to get a job at the local Beefeater. Beginning as a glass collector, he quickly found his home in the kitchen and never looked back.

Since then, he has cooked in some of the most respected and formative kitchens in the industry, including Seabird at The Hoxton, Galvin at Windows, Maze, BAFTA, The Spotted Pig, New York, The Princess Royal and most notably, St. John, which he describes as the place that shaped him both as a chef and a person.

Commenting on his appointment, McDaid said: “What drew me to the industry then is still what drives me now. The buzz of the kitchen, the anticipation of service, the way it brings people from all walks of life together - it’s like a world of its own and I love that.

“I wanted to be part of The Royal Bell because of the people behind its revival. Spend just an hour with them and you can see it in their faces, hear it in their voices - what this place means. It’s rare to find that level of genuine care and I want to bring everything I’ve learned over the past 24 years to help make The Royal Bell the place to be.

“We’re so lucky in the UK to have access to world-class ingredients year-round. I want to bring that to the table - A New Era of Dining Dawns in Bromley with Culinary Powerhouses at the Helm food that’s humble but done to the highest standard. Think classic flavours, great produce, nothing showy, just honest food, done properly.”

Award winning celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has also joined the team as the chef for The Royal Bell’s upcoming ‘Aldo’s Pizza’ and ‘Zilli Caffé’.