The Feathers recruits Stephen Browning as hotel director

The Feathers hotel in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, has appointed Stephen Browning as hotel director.

He will be responsible for all hotel operations and enhancing the guest experience while spearheading the next phase of the 21-bedroom hotel’s journey, following its reopening in October after a multimillion-pound renovation.

Browning joins the Feathers from Dormy House hotel, also in the Cotswolds, where he has held the position of executive general manager since 2019. Under his leadership, the property maintained its position as one of the UK’s leading boutique hotels.

Browning also spent nine years with Exclusive Collection, where he was general manager of the Manor House in Castle Combe, a five-star country house hotel, home to a Michelin-starred restaurant and a championship golf course.

His career has also taken in stints at the Bath Spa hotel, part of the Macdonald Hotels group, and at Hand Picked Hotels, across New Hall Hotel & Spa in Sutton Coldfield, Crathorne Hall hotel in North Yorkshire and Wood Hall Hotel & Spa in Wetherby.

Of his new role, Browning said: “I’m looking forward to working closely with the team to build on the hotel’s unique character, warm hospitality and standout dining experiences to solidify our positioning as a luxury go-to destination in the UK.”

In 2023 the Grade II-listed hotel was acquired by Daniel Ede, whose Ede Homes Group already owns hotels No 192 in Oxford and Old Abbey House in Abingdon.

This year will see the expansion of the Feathers to introduce a selection of dog-friendly rooms, an extension to the Nest brasserie and the Aviary bar, and a new terrace concept.