Chef Daniel Humm is opening his first London restaurant. And yes, he’s doing so at Claridge’s. The rumours, which we reported at the beginning of the month, are, to no-one’s great surprise, true after all.

Humm, together with restaurateur Will Guidara, will launch Davies and Brook in summer 2019. The Mayfair haunt will replace Fera, which closed on New Year’s Eve.

Humm and Guidara are the duo behind Eleven Madison Park in New York, which holds three Michelin stars and was in 2017 named the best restaurant in the world by the World’s 50 Best Awards.

The chef takes on a famous Art Deco chamber previously occupied by Gordon Ramsay and Simon Rogan.

“Having the opportunity to bring our cuisine and hospitality to the most storied hotel in the world is really a remarkable feeling and a dream come true,” a statement from Humm said on Wednesday.

“But on a more personal level, this is my first time opening a restaurant in Europe, a place I left so many years ago to forge a career in America. Most people don’t know this, but I even worked at Claridge’s when I was 15 years only and it left an indelible mark on me.

“Claridge’s has always been a place I’ve felt connected to, so being able to come full circle is really emotional and exciting — it feels likes coming home.”

Guidara said: “We’re eager to become a part of the community in London, one that has felt like a second home to us over the years, and to deepen the relationships we have there while serving Daniel’s food and bringing our style of service.

“The history of Claridge’s and the responsibility that comes with opening a restaurant within those walls is not something we take lightly – it’s an opportunity we’re truly humbled by and we can’t wait to open our doors later this year. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Paddy McKillen, co-owner of Claridge’s, said: “We are very excited to bring longtime friends and guests of the hotel; Daniel, Will and their exceptional team to Claridge’s, as we have been looking for an opportunity to work with them for some time.”