Radio intern turned wunderkind chef Brendan King takes charge at Chippendale’s Lady Hampshire

Hospo wunderkind Brendan King studied film and radio, then switched the dial to become head chef at the reborn Lady Hampshire pub. His approach? Keep it simple.

Lady Hampshire Brendan King pictured with his ‘simple’ schnitzel. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A 25-year-old who interned at Nova and 2DayFM, is the new head chef at the Lady Hampshire in Camperdown, which has been resurrected as a live music venue and relaunches this weekend.

Brendan King has been charged with overseeing the kitchen at the pub.

He said the focus will be on “simple and honest pub food.”

“I feel like a baby in the industry, but what is awesome is the support I have from the so many chefs in the [Public Hospitality] group to help and teach me.”

King hails from Western Sydney and started working in the kitchen at 17, washing dishes at Hotel Palisade, while studying film and radio at the prestigious Australia Film, Television and Radio school.

Simple pub fare on the menu at the Lady Hampshire. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Hampshire Smash Burger. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

While he never formally completed an apprenticeship, King said he studied under mentor, and now roommate, Joel Bennetts while he completed his radio internships.

The “fun and hectic and creative” nature of the kitchen eventually called King to work in hospitality full time, and he helped Bennetts run Fish Shop and Fish Market in Bondi, before starting the hip Baba’s Place in Marrickville.

Live music will return to the Lady Hampshire. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I love the instant creativity of a kitchen. With film and radio you can spend six months on a project and still not be satisfied. But I rock up to work and serve 150 plates a day,” he said.

While he admires fine dining, King’s food philosophy is “yummy, fast, affordable and filling.”

Which is why his inspiration for the menu at the venue nicknamed ‘The Lady’ is “simple but honest pub food,” he said.

“The chicken schnitzel is served with mash or chips, with jus. It’s simple, but everything has to be right because there is nowhere to hide,” he said.

King, whose mother is Anglo-Indian, is also going to serve up curry on Tuesdays, with a “curry and cans” night inspired by the food he grew up with.

The reborn Lady Hampshire pub. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Other menu items and old school pub favourites include a Guinness Shepherd’s Pie, half roast chicken, and Hampshire Smash burger. All are served on mismatched, vintage plates.

The Lady is owned by Public Hospitality, who this weekend will launch her as a live music venue, with a festival of acts from surf rock favourites Pacific Ave and punk rock outfit FANGZ, supported by DEDPAN, Juno, Darcy Lane, The Wicked Envy and Mac The Knife (DJ set).

The launch comes as another iconic music venue, Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel will reopen this month.