Chris Meredith and Scot Turner to leave Coworth Park
Executive chef Chris Meredith and food and beverage director Scot Turner are to leave Coworth Park, the Dorchester Collection's country house hotel and spa in Ascot, less than a year after joining.
The duo were appointed last May as part of a restructure of the food and beverage operation at the hotel after John Campbell, formerly director of cuisine, had changed his role to a consultancy one for its flagship Restaurant John Campbell. The consultancy was terminated last November, a month after the restaurant won a Michelin star.
Meredith (pictured), who took on his role in July last year, will leave at the end of May to join Sandy Lane in Barbados as sous chef. Turner, who joined Coworth Park last May, will leave in July to become hotel manager at the InterContinental London Westminster hotel, which is scheduled to open in the autumn.
Commenting on the news, Coworth Park general manager Zoe Jenkins said: "We are delighted for Chris and Scot and wish them every success in their new appointments. They have both been a pleasure to work with and I would like to thank them both sincerely for all their hard work in helping us build Coworth Park into the one of the UK's most successful luxury countryside hotels.
"We look forward to announcing new appointments at Coworth Park in due course."
Meredith and Turner's departures are the latest in a series of food and beverage staff changes at Coworth Park since its opening in October 2010. Peter Eaton, Coworth Park's former head chef, was made redundant from the hotel in May 2011, Chris Warwick, head chef of the Barn at Coworth Park, left the same month, and Olly Rouse, head chef of restaurant John Campbell at Coworth Park, left the hotel in October 2011.
Meredith was previously executive chef and company manager at Punch Bowl Inns and ran the back- and front-of-house operations at the Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant in Crosthwaite and the Plough Inn at Lupton.
In 2002, Meredith repurposed the Samling hotel from an exclusive-use property to a hotel and restaurant. Meredith moved on at the end of 2004, just before the Michelin Guide published in January 2005 awarded the Samling hotel its first Michelin star. By this time Meredith had taken up the position of head chef at Gilpin Lodge, and 12 months later the restaurant was also awarded a Michelin star.
Before joining Coworth Park, Turner's most recent positions included deputy general manager at Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa in York and deputy general manager at the De Vere Oulton Hall & Spa in Leeds.
John Campbell and Coworth Park announce end of consultancy >>
John Campbell confirms new role as consultant at Coworth Park >>
Coworth Park confirms the appointment of Chris Meredith as executive chef >>
By Kerstin Kühn
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