Peter Howarth recruited as head chef of the Samling

Peter Howarth has been appointed head chef of the Michelin-starred Samling hotel restaurant in Ambleside in the Lake District.

He joins the 11-bedroom hotel from his previous role as head chef at the two-Michelin-starred Gidleigh Park hotel restaurant in Newton Abbot, Devon. He will replace Nick Edgar as head chef at the Samling from October, when Edgar will be taking time off for personal reasons.

Howarth was formerly head chef at the two-Michelin-starred Latymer restaurant at the Pennyhill Park hotel, and has also worked at the Devonshire Arms hotel at Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire, and Winteringham Fields in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

Alongside 12 newly refurbished bedrooms, the hotel has also recently completed the expansion of the restaurant from 22 covers to 48, as well as refurbishing the kitchen, enhancing the wine cellar and adding a chef's table.

Howarth said: "Gidleigh is such a beautiful property and I have very much enjoyed my time there but as soon as I saw the Samling it got under my skin. Jobs like this don't come up and I am so thankful for this opportunity."

General manager Alasdair Elwick added: "We are delighted to have recruited one of the UK's best chefs. Peter brings a wealth of experience and talent to the role. When you combine this appointment with the major redevelopment and refurbishment that has been undertaken at the hotel it shows what an exciting future the hotel has ahead."

The Samling hotel set to expand its Michelin-star restaurant >>

Nick Edgar recruited as head chef of the Samling >>

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