UK: The boutique hotel located outside the city of Bath has announced the appointment of three senior team members including a general manager, food and beverage manager and head chef.
The Bird is part of The Kaleidoscope Collection, an independent and privately-owned collection of two Bath hotels.
Ashley Ely has been named as The Bird’s general manager. He has previously worked in boutique hotels including Chewton Glen as hotel director, and The Zetter Hotel & Zetter Townhouse as general manager.
Ely joins The Bird from Locke Hotels as cluster general manager, where he was responsible for two of the group’s London openings including Bermonds Locke in September 2020.
James Rowley arrived at The Bird in November 2020, joining as food and beverage manager of Plate, the hotel’s dining venue with launched in October 2020. He was most recently restaurant manager at the five-red star, two AA rosette Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa.
Rowley is currently working alongside head chef Leon Smith, who joined in the summer of 2020. Smith has gained experience at some of the UK’s finest restaurants including Tom Aikens in Chelsea, Wild Honey, Berwick Lodge, and The Pony and Trip – one of the few Michelin starred pubs.
Ely said: “I am very excited to be joining James, Leon and the team at The Bird and working with everyone at The Kaleidoscope Collection. I am looking forward to getting stuck in and whilst we live in very uncertain times, I am confident that once the situation allows, 2021 will be a big year for The Bird and Plate combined. The team have been doing an excellent job of looking after our guests and serving great food & drink in a very unique property. I will be looking to build on this along with a few projects thrown in for good measure – it is going to be a busy time and I can’t wait to get started.”
BHN news editor Eloise Hanson spoke to Ian Taylor, co-owner of The Kaleidoscope Collection, during the first UK lockdown. You can listen to the podcast here.
