The former owners of Cotswold hotel and restaurant group the Lucky Onion have revealed a new project to refurbish and relaunch the 26-bedroom Talbot hotel in Malton in February 2019.
Sam and Georgie Pearman will relaunch the 17th century former hunting lodge and coaching inn in collaboration with Tom Naylor-Leyland, whose family have owned the hotel for many years. Naylor-Leyland has worked to establish the North Yorkshire town as the culinary capital of the north launching the Malton Food Lovers Festival, which is attended by 30,000 each year.
In an Instagram post announcing the project Georgie said the building next to the River Derwent was "stunningly beautiful" and surrounded by "amazing artisan producers".
The first phase of refurbishment will see all living spaces, including a new bar and the restaurant, designed to reflect the roots of the coaching inn with exposed wood floors, darkly painted walls and cosy corners. A feasting room will also be reinstated for private parties with new head chef Robert Brittain working alongside Sam to create a menu that champions the best of Yorkshire produce.
The restaurant was previously overseen by celebrity chef James Martin, who grew up in Malton, from 2012 to 2015.
The second phase of the refurbishment, which will see the 26-bedrooms and suites redesigned is expected to be completed by spring 2019.
Naylor-Leyland said: "It's thrilling that Sam and Georgie Pearman have chosen the Talbot and Malton to start their next venture. With their focus on quality and provenance it's brilliant that we'll have that kind of expertise and talent in town. We very much look forward to working with Sam and Georgie to help take the Talbot and Malton to the next level."
The Pearmans have registered a new company, Country Creatures, which will specialise in creating restaurants, inns and hotels that focus on great British hospitality.
The couple left the Lucky Onion Group in 2017 to pursue other ventures. The group is now owned and run by Julian Dunkerton, the co-founder and former chief executive of fashion label Superdry.
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