THE PIG-near Bath, the latest addition to Home Grown Hotel’s popular litter of Pigs, announces the appointment of Tom Ross as Hotel Director.
Tom, who will take over when the hotel opens this winter, brings with him years of experience in the hospitality industry – he was actually born into it, with his parents Stephen and Penny Ross owning and running the award-winning Bath-based duo Homewood Park Hotel and The Queensberry Hotel.
Tom made his industry debut working for Hotel du Vin in Winchester, from there he moved to the United States to work at the 5 star, Fearrington House Inn before heading west to Napa Valley, California where he progressed to maître d’ of the French Laundry Restaurant, winner of Best Restaurant in the World 2002 and 2003.
2004 saw his return to the Hotel du Vin in Brighton before becoming General Manager of HdV Tunbridge Wells and then opening HdV Cheltenham in 2007. In 2010 he took on the role of Operations Director for Jeremy Mogford in Oxford, responsible for the running of both the Old Bank Hotel and the Old Parsonage Hotel.
Now, Tom is returning to his home town of Bath to once again work alongside Robin Hutson.
Said Tom, “I am delighted to be part of the opening team for this immensely exciting new project. THE PIG has already carved out a very special niche in the New Forest with its amazing home-grown fare and laid-back feel, we hope to create the same ambience here.”
Located just seven miles from Bath and 12 miles from Bristol, THE PIG-near Bath will be located at Hunstrete House, a mellow Georgian house in the Mendip Hills This hotel will boast extensive grounds, a walled garden, fields and its own deer park with 100 fallow deer.
Designed by Judy Hutson in the same shabby chic style that has become THE PIG’s signature, it will comprise 30 bedrooms, a restaurant that will draw heavily on produce grown in its own gardens and spa treatment rooms.
Meanwhile THE PIG–on the beach will launch in spring 2014 one of England best coastal spots, Studland Bay in Dorset.