Jonathan Thompson retires after 33 years with Historic House Hotels

Jonathan Thompson has retired as director and general manager of Hartwell House in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, after 27 years in the role.

His departure from the four-red-AA-star, 52-bedroom property comes 33-years after joining operating company Historic House Hotels (HHH).

Thompson joined HHH in 1983 as general manager of Bodysgallen Hall, moving to Hartwell House in January 1989 to oversee the opening of the stately home as a hotel six months later.

Born and brought up in Liverpool, he studied hotel management at Blackpool and Fylde College before going to work for large city centre properties belonging to Centre Hotels.

Following a year spent at a hotel in Akbar in Jordan, Thompson returned to the UK as deputy manager at the Compleat Angler in Marlow. His first general manager role was at Stratton House in Cirencester, before moving to Bodysgallen Hall.

Thompson's replacement at the Grade I-listed Hartwell House is Matthew Johnson, who joins the hotel from his role as director and general manager at Bodysgallen Hall. The appointment marks a return for Johnson to Hartwell, who began his career with HHH at the hotel in 1993.

Meanwhile, Elgan Roberts is the new general manager at Bodysgallen Hall, after 16 years at the hotel, moving up from assistant manager.

Lionel Chatard will continue in his role as director and general manager of Middlethorpe Hall in York.

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