Creative split sees acclaimed chef depart Brisbane fine diner Pneuma
A high-profile departure has shaken Brisbane’s fine dining scene, with celebrated chef Matt Blackwell stepping away from Pneuma, the acclaimed central business district restaurant he helped launch in 2023.
Blackwell’s decision to exit the venue, owned by fellow chef and restaurateur Dan Arnold, was described as “heartbreaking”, with the chef citing “a divergence in direction” as the catalyst for the split. Arnold also operates Restaurant Dan Arnold in Fortitude Valley and La Cache à Vín in Spring Hill.
Blackwell, who was head chef and the creative force behind Pneuma, confirmed the restaurant was operating smoothly but said its direction had shifted since inception.
“The direction of the business has changed from the initial set up and where I see it going and it’s just the right time for me to make this decision,” the 38-year-old told The Courier-Mail.
“I’ve put everything into it,” he added. “It’s pretty heartbreaking.”
Blackwell will remain at Pneuma until early July to assist with the transition while he and Arnold seek a new head chef—a difficult task given the restaurant’s reputation is closely tied to Blackwell’s signature approach to modern cookery.
“It’s coming to an end in a way I’m trying to control,” Blackwell said.
Looking ahead, the former GOMA chef intends to open his own restaurant, possibly outside Queensland.
“I’m going to take a few weeks to digest everything once it’s over and then see what happens and figure it out from there,” he said. “We’ve moved around quite a bit in our lifetime, so we’ll see what opportunities come up.”
Jonathan Jackson, 16th June 2025
