Pub operators Mark and Penny Thornhill move into hotels
Hospitality operators Mark and Penny Thornhill have taken over the management of the King's Head in Hursley, near Winchester, marking the couple's first move into the world of boutique hotels.
The Thornhills have previously operated a number of pubs, including the Rockingham Arms, New Forest, and the Bell in Fetcham, Surrey.
They took over the King's Head, a Cirrus Inns property, in February and work has begun on creating a kitchen garden, with Andrew Bentley, aka ‘the Gardening Gent', brought in to help develop the project.
The Thornhills have grown their own vegetables and herbs at all their past operations, including the Cricketers in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, which was awarded three stars by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
Mark Thornhill commented: "There is nothing better for our customers than knowing that such great care has been applied to everything that we offer. Our guests appreciate seeing and chatting to our chefs while they're picking from the pubs' garden.
"Sustainability, provenance and sourcing on all levels is something we are very passionate about and this will be conveyed through to our menus."