Hoteliers of the Year reveal coronavirus wild side

More than a dozen former winners of The Caterer’s Hotelier of the Year award have unveiled beards grown during the coronavirus lockdown to raise money for charity.

The initiative is lead by 1986 Hotelier of the Year Harry Murray, chairman of Lucknam Park in Chippenham, and won the support of some of the biggest names in the UK hotel industry.

Red Carnation managing director Jonathan Raggett, Grosvenor House general manager Stuart Bowery, Iconic Luxury Hotels executive director Andrew Stembridge and Calcot Hotels executive chairman Richard Ball are among those sporting newly hirsute chins.

Hoteliers often pride themselves on their immaculate appearance, so whether the beards will remain post-lockdown remains to be seen.

Nick Appell, managing director of Casna Group, which sponsors Hotelier of the Year, donated £500 for the Hospitality for Heroes challenge.

Pictured clockwise from top left:

• Richard Ball
• Craig Bancroft
• Andrew McKenzie
• Harry Murray
• Andrew Stembridge
• Patrick Elsmie
• Michael Gray
• Robin Hutson
• John Stauss
• Peter Lederer
• Ricci Obertelli
• Jonathan Raggett
• Terry Holmes
• Stuart Bowery