Ernst van Zyl joins Macdonald Manchester hotel

Ernst van Zyl has been appointed executive chef at the Macdonald Manchester hotel.

The chef joins the 338-bedroom property having left the Glazebury gastropub near Warrington in May after three months of overseeing the kitchen. At the time, he said "things don't always work out as wished".

The Macdonald Manchester has a Scottish steakhouse restaurant and a lounge and bar area.

Van Zyl posted on Twitter: "Some huge challenges await; lots to get stuck into but very exciting times ahead; Rome wasn't built in a day so a step at a time is how we'll be creating a very amazing food offering."

The South African-born chef, formerly of the Lord Clyde in Kerridge, Macclesfield, and the Hanging Gate Inn in Cheshire, took over the Glazebury with partner Liz Kellett on 2 February with plans to expand the business.

He pulled out of plans to open his own restaurant in Manchester's Stockport last year due to funding and legal issues. Plans to head the food offering at Signature Living's Cunard House venture in Liverpool as executive chef fell through when his three-month contract with the company was not renewed.

Ernst Van Zyl and Liz Kellett take the reigns at Warrington gastropub the Glazebury >>

Ernst van Zyl pulls out of plans to open Stockport restaurant >>

Ernst Van Zyl's contract with Signature Living's Cunard House ‘not being renewed' >>