About us

Daniel and Margriet, the owners of Old Town Bistro sitting in front of a floral painted wall.

Daniel Crump MCA and Margriet Vandezande-Crump

Owners

Old Town Bistro is the vision of husband-and-wife team Daniel and Margriet, who have honed their craft working in some of the UK’s top restaurants. Driven by a shared belief in classic, hearty British cooking and genuine, down-to-earth hospitality, they set out to create a neighbourhood bistro where guests feel truly at home.

Following the success of their first solo venture, The Greyhound, Daniel and Margriet have poured their experience, energy, and personal touch into building a place where everyone can gather, relax, and share comforting food.

A smiling chef with short brown hair and a beard wearing a white chef's jacket in a commercial kitchen.

James Askew

Head Chef

Meet our head chef, James. Originally from High Wycombe, he’s spent 14 years in the industry and joined Dan and Margriet at The Greyhound in 2021, working his way up to head chef. Preferring a busy service, James likes to keep his mind sharp; he loves the energy of working with his team and pushing their limits during high-pressure shifts.

James’ menu recommendation is the croquettes, a family recipe perfected by Margriet’s mother over the last 40 years, which he had the honour of making with her.

Hannah, Restaurant Manager of the Old Town Bistro, sitting at a table in the main dining room. There is a small glass pitcher on the table.

Hannah Rippon

Restaurant Manager

Meet Hannah, our restaurant manager. Originally from Sheffield, Hannah has worked in hospitality her entire career and has been working with Dan and Margriet since 2018. Hannah thrives on busy, fast-paced shifts that keep her on her toes, and whether she’s out on the floor or working hard behind the scenes, she’s always making sure everything runs smoothly.

Not sure what to order? Why not go for Hannah’s favourite, the Caesar salad!

Zuzanna in a light gray suit sitting at a table in the main dining room. She has her hands folded on the table and is smiling at the camera.

Zuzanna Olszewska

Assistant Manager

Meet Zuzanna, our assistant manager. Originally from Poland, she brings a calm, focused approach to the floor and a genuine passion for hospitality. Service has always been part of her life, and she enjoys the pace of a busy shift, where her attention to detail and strong organisational skills make all the difference. Dedicated to making sure every guest is well looked after.

Her favourite dish on the menu is the fish and chips, a British classic and a standout on the menu.

Andreas in a blue suit and cream patterned tie sitting at a table in the Old Town Bistro, a modern restaurant with brick and green-paneled walls.

Andrius Prelgauskas

Group Support Manager

Chris, wearing his chef whites smiling in the Old Town Bistro's professional kitchen.

Christopher Hurter

Group Support Chef

Chris is our group support chef for both The Greyhound and Old Town Bistro. Originally from Cape Town, he’s spent 17 years in the industry, working everywhere from gastropubs to luxury hotels. He works best when passing on his knowledge to the team whether that's a new technique or flavour pairing. Chris often says ‘a chef is as strong as the team surrounding them’.

Chris’ favourite dessert is the sundae. Created with Head Chef James, it’s a decadent mix of flavours and textures to perfectly round off your meal.

Andrius is our Group Support Manager for The Greyhound and Old Town Bistro. Originally from Lithuania, he began working part-time as a waiter while studying and quickly fell in love with hospitality, deciding to make it his career. He has worked with Dan and Margriet since 2018. Andrius finds the busiest shifts the most rewarding. His main goal is to give every guest the best possible experience. He loves getting to know people and building genuine friendships along the way.

His go-to dish on the menu is the ribeye; it’s full of flavour!