Garry Baldwin promoted to managing director at New Forest Hotels

Following six months as head of group operations at New Forest Hotels, Garry Baldwin has been promoted to managing director.

Baldwin joined the company last year after 10 years with the AA from his role as senior hotel inspector and will now take the managerial reins following Michaela Lisle's step down after 20 years with the company. Lisle is aiming at an early retirement in April 1019 and continues to support the group as a non-executive director.

The New Forest Hotels portfolio includes Bartley Lodge, near Lyndhurst; Beaulieu hotel; Forest Lodge, Lyndhurst; Moorhill House, Burley; Burley Manor; and the Drift Inn, near Lyndhurst.

Baldwin said: "I am very much looking forward to leading, coaching and mentoring our excellent team and importantly overseeing the creation and development of the company's strategic goals. We as a team look forward to completing some exciting projects throughout the collection in 2019, whilst together making the guest experience even better by continuing to drive the standard of service and hospitality."

Furthermore, group executive chef James Forman has been promoted to chef director after three years with the company. He previously spent two years at the Wedgewood hotel in Vancouver, Canada and more recently at Holbrook House in Wincanton, Somerset and Cotswold House in Chipping Campden, where he was awarded a Michelin Rising Star Award and three AA Rosettes.

He said: "It's a very exciting time and I'm looking forward heading up the kitchens throughout the collection, constantly looking at ways to improve and innovate to ensure we continue to build on our restaurants reputations for delivering freshly prepared, high-quality food and offering an excellent dining experience. I've always been passionate about chef development so I'm also really looking forward to taking our apprenticeship programme to the next level and developing our young chefs of the future."

The group described 2019 as "set to be a pivotal year" for New Forest Hotels and in particular Burley Manor, with the team aiming to bring in "new concepts".

Senior AA inspector Garry Baldwin to join New Forest Hotels >>