Pike calls it a day at Sodexho and joins Costley & Costley

Willie Pike has left his job as executive chef at contract catering giant Sodexho after nine years.

He has joined hotel group Costley & Costley as director of food.

Costley & Costley owns six hotels in Ayrshire, south-west Scotland. The hotel restaurants are a major part of the business. It grabbed the news this year when its Lochgreen House hotel in Troon, Ayrshire, won the Scottish hotel of the year 2003-2004 from the AA.

It beat Gleneagles in Auchterarder, Perthshire, and Inverlochy Castle in Fort William, Inverness-shire.

Pike's day-to-day role will involve training, demonstrations and food development across the group.

Pike hinted that the group, owned by ex-chef Bill Costley and wife Cath, was considering hiring a big name chef to head up the kitchen at the three-rosette-rated Lochgreen hotel.

He added that his split with Sodexho had been amicable.

"I'm very thankful for the faith Sodexho put in me, but this is just another opportunity on my culinary journey," he said.