Mark Booth appointed GM at Hallgarth Manor

A former trainee chef at the Savoy Group has been appointed general manager of the newly-refurbished Hallgarth Manor hotel, near Durham.

Mark Booth's appointment comes following a £2m revamp that saw the creation of a new bridal suite from a former meeting room, a new Mirror Ball function room, and a new Orangery.

The refurbishment followed the purchase of the hotel by UK-based hospitality investment business Shepherd Cox, which owns a mix of independent hotels and properties operating under brands such as Ibis, Holiday Inn and Travelodge.

Booth joins the property with 36 years' hospitality experience, having previously worked at Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa, Chathill, Northumberland; Hazlewood Castle Hotel, near Leeds; and Brooklands hotel, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He started his careeer as a trainee chef with the Savoy Group before moving into management roles.

His immediate task upon joining Hallgarth Manor to extend the refurbishment to other areas of the hotel, including a new dining offer in the Tavern restaurant.

"I have taken over at Hallgarth Manor Hotel at a really exciting time," he commented. "Our guests have also been very impressed with our refurbishment - our last open day saw us book no fewer than 21 weddings."

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