Menzies Welcomes Shaun Van Looy & Gary Lissemore to Stratford-Upon-Avon

Menzies Hotels is delighted to announce the arrivals of General Manager Shaun Van Looy and Executive Chef Gary Lissemore.

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. November 14, 2014

November 14, 2014 - You could say Shaun Van Looy, the newly appointed General Manager at The Menzies Welcombe Hotel, was born for this. After all, he learned the ropes from a very young age, when he would regularly shadow his mother as she worked cross the THF PostHouse Hotels portfolio, inspecting countless hotel rooms and even dining in the canteen with the staff. In time, once he was ready to formally enter the workforce, Shaun was quickly identified by employers and enrolled in managerial fast track courses, displaying a particular aptitude for teamwork and coping with the unexpected, a trait which has certainly served him well when welcoming the likes of Jeremy Clarkson and Mike Tyson through his doors.

Being an avid football fan, Shaun has lost track of the amount of teams he has hosted during his career, who alongside Jamie Oliver and the aforementioned famous faces have somehow managed to leave the place in once piece. Since joining the Menzies Group in 2006, he has placed the customer at the forefront of his thoughts, and finds himself at home amidst the luxurious surroundings of the Welcombe, with its architectural beauty, quintessentially English location, and outstanding spa and golfing facilities.

“It is crucial to me that the customer enjoys every aspect of their stay with us at The Welcombe”, he said. “My objective is to secure our position as the top hotel, spa and golfing resort in central England. As a keen golfer I can assure you I will also be taking the time to ensure the latter is up to scratch!”

Alongside Shaun, newly-appointed executive chef Gary Lissemore is no stranger to the rich and famous himself, having served The Queen and national football team during his career leading banqueting teams around the country. Beginning with baking during school holidays, Gary cut his culinary teeth at QMH Hotels and originally joined the Welcombe around 16 years ago as a pastry chef, before returning triumphantly in 2014 to lead the property's kitchen team.

From his signature dish of curried monkfish to the new brain food-centric conference lunch menu, introduced to keep delegates alert and foster mental acrobatics in the boardroom, Gary brings with him an affinity for local produce and suppliers. Not to mention an underlying enthusiasm and passion, which he believes to be the foundation of all good food.

About Menzies Hotels

Menzies Hotels is a portfolio of 12 distinctive hotels across the UK. Across the Menzies group you will find hotels with excellent health and leisure facilities, award-winning dining, recently refurbished bedrooms, and spacious lounges.

Acquired by Topland in 2013, the Menzies collection ranges from convenient city centre locations, to relaxing country and coastal retreats, and was recognised in the category of Best Mid-Scale Hotel Group at the 2013 British Travel Awards.

www.menzieshotels.co.uk
@MenziesHotels

The Welcombe Hotel Spa and Golf Club
Warwick Road,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire,
CV37 0NR | 01789 295252