June 2012 (London) - Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection's luxury country house hotel and spa, has announced the appointment of Brian Hughson as Executive Chef, effective from Monday, July 2nd. Joining from his role as head chef at The Grill at The Dorchester, Hughson brings more than 20 years culinary experience with him to Coworth Park. Previous positions include Head Chef at Gary Rhodes' W1 restaurant, which was awarded a Michelin star during his tenure and three AA rosettes within seven months of opening. Hughson has also cooked at eminent London restaurants Pétrus, Rhodes in the Square, Frith Street, 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), the Savoy Grill, and Mirabelle, Belvedere and Wheeler's with Marco Pierre White.

Reporting to General Manager Zoe Jenkins, Hughson will oversee the kitchens for Restaurant Coworth Park, The Barn, The Bar, The Drawing Room, The Spatisserie, In-Room dining for 70 rooms and suites, and banqueting for four private event rooms and the marquee, covering events for up to 300 guests.

Since Coworth Park's launch in September 2010, the Berkshire hotel has established an extremely strong food and beverage offering across the hotel. Hughson's assured and delicious cooking with its emphasis on the provenance of ingredients will be the ideal match for the best of British reputation Coworth Park has built in its first year and a half of operation.

Commenting on his appointment, Hughson said, "This is an exciting move; it will give me an opportunity to take up a new challenge and cook the food I love best in a beautiful environment with a team that I have already come to know well. Coworth Park has been leading the pack in English country house hotels since it opened and I can't wait to be part of it."

General Manager Zoe Jenkins commented, "Brian has cooked for some exceptional restaurants, he is well liked in the industry and respected as an accomplished leader by his kitchen team. Alongside the spa, food is an integral part of the first class experience for our guests so we are looking forward to having Brian at Coworth Park to take dining to the next level. The hotel has been honored with a number of awards since opening, and we have recently announced an association with Guards Polo Club - we are expecting a busy summer."

Biography: Brian Hughson
2009 - 2011       Head Chef - The Grill at The Dorchester, London
2007 - 2008       Head Chef - Rhodes W1, London
2006 - to date    Chef- HRH, The Prince of Wales, various Royal Residences
2004 - 2007       Head Chef - The Restaurant, 30 St Mary Axe, The Gherkin, London
2003 - 2004       Senior Sous Chef - The Savoy Grill (Marcus Wareing), London
2003 - 2003       Senior Sous Chef - Petrus, London
2002 - 2003       Head Chef - Wheelers of St James (Marco Pierre White) London
2000 - 2002       Head Chef - The Belvedere, London
1999 - 2000       Sous Chef - Cantina Vinopolis & Frith Street Restaurant, London
1998 - 1999       Senior Chef de Partie - Rhodes in the Square, London
1987 - 1990       City of Guilds Caulden College, Stoke on Trent  
1967                   Brian was born in Speke, Liverpool, in 1967

Dorchester Collection
Dorchester Collection is a portfolio of the world's foremost luxury hotels in Europe and the USA, each of which reflects the distinctive culture of its destination. By applying its unrivalled experience and capability in owning and operating some of the greatest individual hotels, the company's mission is to develop an impeccable group of the finest landmark hotels through acquisition as well as management of wholly-owned and part-owned hotels, and to enter into management agreements.

The current portfolio includes the following hotels (in order of them joining the group): The Dorchester, London; The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills; Le Meurice, Paris; Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris; Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan; Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles; Coworth Park, Ascot, UK; 45 Park Lane, London; and Le Richemond, Geneva.

dorchestercollection.com