Oliver Clarke joins No 15 Great Pulteney in Bath as head chef

Boutique Bath hotel No 15 Great Pulteney has appointed Oliver Clarke as head chef.

Clarke joins the 40-bedroom property from Bath's Abbey hotel, which was until February a sister property of No 15 Great Pulteney.

Owners Ian and Christa Taylor sold the four-AA-star Abbey hotel to fund new hotel projects, including the 22-bedroom County Hotel Bath, to join No 15 under parent company Kaleidoscope Collection.

Clarke began his culinary career at Bristol restaurant Bordeaux Quay before working at hotels and restaurants across the south west, including Langdon Court in Devon and the Beckford Arms in Tisbury when it was named as dining pub of the year in the Good Pub Guide.

He has introduced a new all-day Bar 15 menu at the hotel featuring small plates designed for sharing.

Sample dishes include pork belly croquette with celeriac remoulade and apple; a winter salad with goat's cheese mousse, beetroot, chicory, candied walnuts and pear; and hand-picked Devon crab on sourdough toast with watercress.

Commenting on his appointment, Clarke said: "I'm thrilled to join the team at No15.

"It's really quirky and different and there's nowhere else quite like it in Bath. I'm really looking forward to the challenge of building a strong team and new food offering at No.15."

Hotel design: No 15 Great Pulteney >>

Ian and Christa Taylor's Kaleidoscope Collection buys County Hotel Bath >>

Ian and Christa Taylor sell the Abbey hotel in Bath >>

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