Christian Landolt, Owner of Whatley Manor, and the hotel’s new General Manager, Sue Williams, have announced the appointment of Niall Keating as Executive Chef, following the recent departure of Martin Burge. Niall will join the hotel from 1 December 2016, and will oversee the entire food and beverage operation, including the two restaurants and all private dining functions. (He will introduce his own menus from 14 January 2017, following the festive season and a brief closure of the restaurants from 8-13 January.)
Niall, aged 25, was born in Staffordshire, and his first taste of a busy restaurant kitchen was as a pot-washer at The Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton when he was 15 and still at school. He was immediately hooked on the buzz and fast pace of the kitchen environment.
His first proper kitchen role was in 2010 as a Commis Chef at the Bath Priory Hotel – and in just two years he worked his way up that culinary ladder to Sous Chef. In 2013, Niall moved to Nottingham as Chef de Partie at Sat Bains Restaurant (two Michelin stars), where he remained for two years. He then acquired a one-year USA visa and worked in San Francisco at Benu (three Michelin stars, with Corey Lee). Continually striving to learn and achieve, Niall then moved to Copenhagen in 2015 as Chef de Cuisine at Restaurant Kong Hans Kaelder (one Michelin star, with chef Mark Lundgaard Nielsen).
Returning to the UK to run a prestigious kitchen has been a long-held goal, and Niall’s new position at Whatley Manor will give him the opportunity to showcase the skills and experience from his roles to date, and to focus on his own cooking style.
“We are delighted that Niall has chosen Whatley Manor for his return to the UK,” stated Sue Williams. “When I first met him at the Bath Priory, his talent was immediately evident, and I have really enjoyed watching his career gather momentum.”
Niall Keating added: “I would like to thank Christian and Sue for this fantastic opportunity. It is an exciting next step for me, and I look forward to evolving the cuisine at Whatley Manor.”
Whatley Manor is a 19th century Cotswolds manor house with 23 rooms, two restaurants, 12 acres of gardens and a spa. Originally a private estate and hunting lodge, it first became a hotel in 1987, but had a full restoration and relaunch in 2003 by its current owners, Alix and Christia Landolt. The hotel has been a member of Relais & Châteaux since 2004.