Martin Burge departs from two-Michelin starred Whatley Manor
Two-Michelin-starred chef Martin Burge has stepped down as executive chef at Whatley Manor hotel and spa, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, with immediate effect.
His departure comes two months after Sue Williams took over as general manager of the five-red-AA-star, 23-bedroom property. Williams was previously general manager at Cliveden in Taplow, Berkshire.
Christian Landolt, the owner of Whatley Manor, said that Burge is moving on to "new challenges".
He continued: "The Dining Room at Whatley Manor, overseen by Martin, has received numerous accolades, including two Michelin stars, and the hotel's new general manager, Sue Williams, hopes to retain those standards in the future. No information about any successor is available at this point."
In addition to overseeing the Dining Room, which has held two Michelin stars since 2010, Burge was also responsible for the hotel's Swiss chalet-style, 70-seat Le Mazot brasserie.
Last year Burge decided to scrap the à la carte offer in the Dining Room and replace it with a seven course £110 tasting menu, which increased in price to £186 with matching wines selected by head sommelier Andrea Domenicucci.
In an interview with The Caterer, he said: "We wanted to consolidate a really consistent product. When we were doing a full-blown à la carte, it was quite tough to make sure we were consistent."
Prior to joining Whatley Manor, Burge worked at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire; L'Ortolan, Shinfield, Berkshire; and Pied à Terre, London.
Christian Landolt, a Swiss equestrian rider, owns Whatley Manor, a Relais & Chateaux property, with his mother Alix. Set within 12 acres of gardens, the hotel features the Aquarias Spa and a 40-seat cinema.
Sue Williams to leave Cliveden to take up GM role at Whatley Manor >>
Menuwatch: The Dining Room, Whatley Manor >>
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