Brakspear targets food sales growth with appointment of first executive chef
The Henley brewer and pub operator has recruited Antony Ely to work with the head chefs at each of its four managed pubs on everything from menu development to sourcing products and sharing best practice across all sites.
Ely joins Brakspear from The Lucky Onion Group, which runs pubs, restaurants and hotels in the Cotswolds including the Wheatsheaf at Northleach. He previously held executive chef roles at Bibury Court Hotel in Gloucestershire and the Clarence Hotel in Dublin, and has also worked in restaurants and hotels in London, including The Square in Mayfair.
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said: “We’re delighted that Antony is joining us and confident that he will add tremendous value to the food business across our managed division. He is clearly a gifted and innovative chef with many years of experience in running high quality food operations and will be able to raise skill and creativity within our existing, talented kitchen teams.”
Earlier this month, Brakspear added the Chequers in Marlow to its managed division, which also includes the Bull on Bell Street in Henley; the Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold and the Running Horses in Mickleham, Surrey. All four sites are overseen by operations manager Mat Aket.
