Simon Ulph appointed head chef at Rowan in Rothay Manor

Simon Ulph has been appointed head chef at Rowan restaurant within Rothay Manor in Ambleside, Cumbria.

He joins the boutique hotel, which holds three-AA-rosettes, from the Stafford London, where he was executive head chef for less than a year. During his tenure, Michael Caines at the Stafford secured a Michelin star.

Ulph had worked closely with Caines previously at Lympstone Manor in Devon. Prior to that, he was head chef at the Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire.

He has also worked across the Ledbury in London’s Notting Hill, Climat in Manchester, and the Michelin-starred Source at Gilpin hotel in the Lake District, where he was sous chef.

At Rowan, he will collaborate with co-owners Jenna and Jamie Shail to introduce a new à la carte, house and signature tasting menu combining British flavours with European and Japanese accents.

Dishes will include Orkney scallop with avocado, yuzu, buttermilk dashi and caviar; roast saddle of Cumbrian lamb, sticky rib, sheep’s yogurt, Yorkshire asparagus and fermented gem; and dark chocolate soufflé with roasted kombu and vanilla ice-cream.

Rowan first launched in July last year with chef Cameron Smith at the helm.

Ulph said: “The Lake District has an incredible wealth of ingredients, and I’m looking forward to creating dishes that reflect the landscape and the seasons. Rowan already has a fantastic reputation, and I’m excited to build on that and take it further.”

Jamie Shail, co-owner of Rothay Manor, added: “TSimon’s talent, vision and Michelin-starred experience make him a natural fit for Rowan. We’re confident he will elevate the restaurant further while staying true to what makes Rothay Manor special.”

Rothay Manor has also welcomed Jo Dixon, the former general manager at Hale Country Club & Spa, as its operations director.

The property resides within a Grade II-listed countryside estate, offering 23 bedrooms split between the main house and a contemporary pavilion.

Husband-and-wife duo Jamie and Jenna Shail took over the property in 2016.