British hotelier and chef buy America's oldest inn

British hotelier Ian Fleming has teamed up with UK-born chef Mark Salter to buy what is believed to be the oldest operating inn in the United States.

Fleming and Salter say they have ambitious plans to revive the fortunes of the 300-year-old Robert Morris Inn in Oxford, Maryland.

The acquisition of the 16-bedroom property with dining for up to 170-covers is a joint venture between Fleming Homestead, which owns the Lake of Menteith hotel in Perthshire and the Terraces hotel in Stirling, and Salter's Chesapeake Gourmet.

Salter, who was born in England and earlier in his career worked at Cromlix House in Dunblane and Llangoed Hall in Wales, will be chef proprietor of the inn, with Fleming Homestead driving the sales, marketing and accounts from the UK.

Salter and Fleming have previously worked together at Cromlix House and at the Inn at Perry Cabin in St Michaels, Maryland, where Fleming was general manager from 1990 to 1993 and Salter was head chef for 17 years.

"As one of America's oldest operating inns of quality and character, The Robert Morris Inn is a truly exceptional venue in one of the eastern shore's most delightful locations," said Fleming. "Oxford has thankfully avoided over commercialisation and remains a truly historic and characterful town and we are privileged to be taking our place at the helm of the Robert Morris Inn as it starts a new chapter in its history."

The inn will feature some of Salter's signature dishes including Maryland crab cakes, honey and tarragon glazed lamb shank and Chesapeake Bay oysters poached in Champagne.

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By Janet Harmer

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