Acorn Awards 2025: Marina Brook, Coworth Park

Age 26

Position Restaurant manager, Coworth Park

Nominator Jonathan Ellson, director of food and beverage, Coworth Park

Marina Brook is setting the bar for luxury restaurant leadership – and doing it with purpose, polish and people at the core. As restaurant manager at Woven by Adam Smith at Coworth Park in Ascot, Brook leads a 22-strong team and oversees a significant operation that’s winning guests, awards and headlines.

Brook’s career began at Coworth Park in 2016 while still a student. After university, she joined the Dorchester Collection’s prestigious Ultimate Leaders Programme and gained experience by working across all aspects of F&B spanning six departments as well as project management. She was later named the group’s inaugural Graduate of the Year. Since then, she’s risen swiftly through three promotions, taking over Coworth Park’s destination restaurant in 2023.

In the past year alone, Woven earned five AA rosettes, a spot in Harden’s Top 5 UK restaurants, and 10th place in SquareMeal’s UK Top 100. Brook helped secure two Michelin Keys for Coworth Park and led the team through its most profitable year yet, achieving a front-of-house engagement score of 87% – a hotel record.

Beyond service, Brook is a mentor and role model. She trains and guides colleagues across departments, runs team-building initiatives like ‘Woven Inside Out’, and regularly represents the industry at open days and charity events. She also coaches applicants for major awards, including tutoring four of her team to apply for Gold Service Scholarship, three of whom were semi-finalists.

Known for her blend of calm authority, creativity and empathy, Brook is elevating the guest experience and shaping a modern vision for fine dining leadership.