Knockinaam Lodge appoints Tyler King as head chef
King joins the hotel from Edinburgh Michelin restaurant Condita, where he served as head chef
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Olivia Watts
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Matfen Hall Completes £50m Six-Year Transformation, Becomes Northumberland’s Only Five-Star Hotel with New Spa and Golf Facilities
🏨 Luxury hotel Matfen Hall, a Grade II listed mansion, completes a £50 million, six-year transformation, becoming Northumberland’s only five-star hotel. By September, the Retreat Spa will double its size, featuring an 18-meter pool, saunas, steam room, and cryotherapy chambers. The hotel now has 63 rooms, including 10 new ones. It boasts Northumberland’s only AA 3-Rosette restaurant and new golf facilities, including The Douglas 18-hole course and a driving range with Toptracer technology. James O'Donnell praises the renovation’s success.
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The Standard London Appoints Sophie Bratt as Head of Bars Amidst Hyatt's £272M Acquisition Transition
🏨 In 2026, lifestyle hotel The Standard London appointed Sophie Bratt as head of bars, overseeing its bars like Sweeties, Double Standard, Decimo, and Isla. With a decade-long career in venues like The Roof Gardens and Nobu, Bratt was awarded Bar Manager of the Year in 2024. Isla recently transformed into a wine bar, focusing on organic and biodynamic selections. The Standard was acquired by Hyatt for £272 million in 2024.
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IHG Signs Agreement with Harilela Group, Adding Three The Hari Hotels to Vignette Collection in Key Markets
📍 IHG Hotels and Resorts has signed a three-hotel agreement with Harilela Group to integrate The Hari London into its Vignette Collection, expanding the brand to Singapore, London, and Hong Kong. This collaboration, evolving over 50 years, now encompasses six hotels. Vignette Collection aims to exceed 100 properties globally within its first decade, with more than 80 open or in the pipeline. The deal enhances IHG's luxury and lifestyle portfolio and supports The Hari's international expansion.
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The Imperial Hotel in Bloomsbury Reopens After 10-Year Redevelopment with 357 Rooms and New Facilities
📍 The Imperial Hotel in Bloomsbury reopened after a decade-long redevelopment, featuring 357 redesigned rooms overlooking Russell Square. Originally opened in 1905, the hotel was rebuilt in 1970 and now boasts a rooftop bar, ground-floor restaurant, gym, and wellness terrace. Sustainability was emphasized, with materials donated through Clean Conscience. The reopening, marked by a ceremony with Cherie Anne Stephenson, signals a shift towards a lifestyle-led destination in central London.
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Kimpton Fitzroy London completes ground-floor redesign
Renovation includes refurbishment of Fitz’s Brasserie, The Parlour and lobby to create flexible 'third space' for guests
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Q Hotels Collection launches Reformer Pilates studios across six sites
Group partners with Create to certify 30 instructors for new dedicated studios
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Marwan Hemchaoui Appointed General Manager of Dumbleton Hall After £25M Redevelopment in the Cotswolds
🏨 Dumbleton Hall, located in the Cotswolds, appointed Marwan Hemchaoui as general manager after a £25 million redevelopment. Acquired by Chatham Park Development in April 2021, the Grade II property underwent a two-year renovation. Previously run by the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance since 1959, it’s now under Bespoke Hotels. The 16-acre estate features 34 guestrooms, a drawing room, library bar, and three restaurants. Hemchaoui, formerly of The Lakes by YOO, expressed excitement for his role.
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Dalata Hotels Appoints Aline Caliari as General Manager of Clayton Hotel St Andrew Square, Opening After £50m Renovation
🏨 Dalata Hotels appointed Aline Caliari as general manager of Clayton Hotel St Andrew Square in Edinburgh, set to open in early 2024 after a £50 million renovation. The site, acquired for £12.5 million in September 2023, will feature 172 guestrooms, a bar, restaurant, gym, and two meeting rooms. The Dalata Hotel Group was acquired last year by Pandox and Eiendomsspar for €1.4 billion (£1.2 billion).
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Duncan Palmer Appointed Chair of Trustees at Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Succeeding David Coubrough
🍳 Duncan Palmer, with over 35 years in luxury hospitality, is now the chair of trustees for The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. Previously, he managed iconic hotels like The Savoy and The Langham in London. Palmer succeeds David Coubrough. He will lead and guide the organization while fulfilling legal and governance roles. The Adopt a School charity, promoting healthy eating among children, also falls under his leadership.
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