Heathrow Crest to be rebranded

The 610-bedroom Forte Crest hotel at London's Heathrow will be turned into a Méridien within the next year or so, says its new general manager.

Christopher Rawstron, previously at Le Méridien Gatwick, revealed that the repositioning would definitely be going ahead. "It's very much Granada's intention to rebrand, following a large amount of investment," he said.

Rawstron, who moved to Heathrow last year, added that he had been instrumental in the "Méridienisation" of the Gatwick hotel, which was also once a Crest.

Despite the planned transformation, the hotel this week opened a replacement for the 120-seat Tutto!! restaurant which closed on New Year's Day after concession-holder Stephen Scuffell pulled out (Caterer, 1 January, page 7).

Chapters will be a "fine-dining" restaurant with customers expected to spend an average £30-£40 each. It will be operated by the London Restaurant Group, which also runs the City Circle restaurant, the Dining Hall in Kingston, Surrey, and outside caterers Silver Service.

Head chef will be 22-year-old Daniel Clarke, who has worked at Gidleigh Park in Devon and Pennypots Restaurant in Cornwall. Food will be modern British.