Craig Atchinson joins Grantley Hall to oversee Fletchers

Chef Craig Atchinson has left the Grand hotel in York to join Grantley Hall as head chef of its Fletchers restaurant.

Fletchers, a 60-cover modern British restaurant, will be one of several food and beverage concepts at the new luxury hotel and wellness retreat in North Yorkshire, including the 38-cover, fine dining Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall restaurant.

Located on a private island with a lake and listed Japanese garden, the 47-bedroom property is nearing the end of a multimillion-pound restoration and extension. It is owned by the Yorkshire-based Sykes family.

Atchinson previously oversaw the three-AA-rosette Hudson's by Craig Atchinson restaurant at the Grand hotel in York. He worked at the property for four years and the restaurant relaunched under his name in August 2017 as part of the five-AA-starred, 107-bedroom hotel's £15m refurbishment.

Atchinson admitted it had been "a hard decision" leaving the Grand, speaking to The Caterer, but said he was "really, really excited" to move to the smaller property.

A spokesperson for the hotel said: "'We are absolutely delighted that Craig has chosen to join the Grantley Hall team as head chef for Fletchers restaurant which sits at the heart of the hotel's food and beverage offering. His arrival completes our trio of highly skilled and respected chefs who will each create their own unique and exciting dining experiences for Grantley Hall guests and visitors."

The third chef is Ben Iley, who has recently been appointed head chef of Bar & Restaurant EightyEight, the hotel's pan-Asian dining experience. He was formerly head chef of Ox Club at Headrow House in Leeds.

Atchinson previously worked with the hotel's director of F&B Simon Crannage and general manager Andrew MacPherson at the four-red-AA-star, 32-bedroom Swinton Park in Masham, North Yorkshire.

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