New general manager for London's Mandrake hotel

Simon Drake has been appointed general manager of the Mandrake hotel in London's Fitzrovia.

He replaces Dean Culpan, who oversaw the opening of the £45m, 34-bedroom hotel from entrepreneur Rami Fustok in 2017.

The appointment marks Drake's return to London after spending a year in Oxford as general manager of the Randolph hotel. Previous roles includes stints at the Conrad London St James, London; Lythe Hill hotel in Haslemere, Surrey, Taj Hotels and GLH Hotels. He has also worked in Bermuda.

Drake said:"I am truly delighted to be given the opportunity to operate one of the most unique hospitality environments many of us will ever experience in our lifetime.

"The Mandrake is a true oasis of serenity and individuality in the greatest city in the world."

Earlier this year the Mandrake replaced its Serge et Le Phoque restaurant, an iteration of the Michlein-starred outlet in Hong Kong, with a new European-South American concept called Yopo.

Yopo to replace Serge et Le Phoque at the Mandrake

Hotel design: The Mandrake, London