Pictured: Simon Concannon

If you're one of the many people who've dined at the Clumber Park Hotel and Spa recently and came away feeling that things were a little bit different, then you'd be forgiven.

Thanks to the appointment of Simon Concannon as the new Food and Beverages Manager, visitors have started rating their dining experience so highly that bookings for both the Normanton Inn and Courtyard Restaurant have shot up in recent weeks.

Simon from Rotherham, knows all too well how important a visitors' experience of drinking and eating is during a hotel stay, thanks to his previous employment at the luxurious four star Copthorne Hotel in Sheffield.

"The Clumber Park Hotel and Spa is located right on the doorstep of Sherwood Forest and most people visit here to relax and unwind with no intention of leaving the grounds," he explains. "It's therefore absolutely crucial that the food and beverages side of their stay is of the highest standard."

"You can have the most exotic food and drinks in the world available to you on a menu but if they're not presented or served in the right way, your whole experience can be ruined," he continues.

"It's my job to make sure that visitors to the hotel not only enjoy the finest ingredients but also have the best dining experience possible." 

Since Simon joined as a member of staff positive feedback from diners has increased, more people are returning for second visits and staff turnover has slowed down whilst staff morale has improved.

"There are twenty waiters and waitresses and five kitchen staff at the hotel and they're all absolutely vital as to how people perceive their dining experience here," he emphasises.

"All are at least NVQ Level 2, some are even at Level 3, and modules provided by the Bespoke hotel group mean that they're all trained up to the highest standards. We're even running training sessions at the moment with staff courtesy of the prestigious Matthew Clark Wine Company, so visitors can be sure they'll receive the very best in food and wine matching recommendations when they eat with us."

James Hemming, General Manager of the Clumber Park Hotel and Spa, couldn't be happier with the recent appointment of Simon as Food and Beverages Manager.

"We're delighted to welcome Simon to the team. He's been doing this for 24 years and having worked at the Copthorne, the Hilton and Best Western groups, he's definitely got the Midas touch when it comes to creating the ultimate fine dining experience," he says.

"That coupled with the recent refurbishment and menu revamp of the hotel's Normanton Inn back in April, is helping to put the hotel well and truly on the map as a great local destination for eating out."