2014-12-16

One of the UK’s most celebrated chefs is joining Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham.

Richard Allen, who has held a Michelin star since 2011, will be taking over the running of The Orangery at Rockliffe Hall in January when he joins the 5* resort as executive head chef. In addition, Richard will work with the teams in Rockliffe Hall’s other two restaurants, The Clubhouse and the Spa Brasserie.

As well as his Michelin star, Richard has held three AA Rosettes for eight years and has two of the highest industry accolades to his name – the Cateys’ Head Chef of the Year 2012 and the Craft Guild of Chefs Restaurant Chef of the Year 2012. Richard is also one of the only chefs to have been named as one of Debrett’s People of Today.

Before joining Rockliffe Hall, Richard was executive chef of the Michelin-starred Tassili restaurant at the 5* Grand Jersey Hotel and has worked with well-known names such as Martin Blunos, Cheong Liew and Michel Roux Junior.

Originally from Poole in Dorset, Richard has relocated to the North East with his wife and two sons and joins Rockliffe Hall’s new chief executive, Eamonn Elliott.

Eamonn himself has worked at a number of prestigious venues all over the UK and Ireland, including eight years as general manager of the multi-award winning Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire and manager of the AA Irish Hotel of the Year, the Mount Falcon and Spa in County Mayo.

For the last five years, Eamonn has been general manager of the Grand Jersey Hotel, taking it from an unknown 4*hotel to the Channel Islands highest rated hotel, gaining a Michelin star for its restaurant and AA 5* status. In addition, he has won numerous awards and is the current holder of the Institute of Directors Young Director of the Year.

Eamonn commented: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Rockliffe Hall as we have so many plans that will become clear throughout 2015. Both Richard and I are committed to making Rockliffe Hall the very best hotel, spa, restaurant and golf resort in the country. Richard is one of the UK’s most celebrated chefs and is passionate about working with the team at Rockliffe Hall to set The Orangery apart from any other restaurant in the North of England.”

About Rockliffe Hall

Opened in November 2009, Rockliffe Hallis an AA-rated 5* leisure resort set within 375 acres on the banks of the River Tees just outside the village of Hurworth, County Durham.

Rockliffe Hall offers 61 spacious guestrooms and suites; two bars; three restaurants including the flagship triple AA Rosette restaurant ‘The Orangery’, ‘The Brasserie’ and ‘The Clubhouse’; 12 meeting and event rooms; an 18-hole championship golf course; and a 50,000 square foot, award-winning spa and wellness centre offering luxurious treatments and a 20 metre indoor swimming pool.

For more information click here

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