By Angela Green, Content Executive, H&C News: New GM and Deputy GM announced at The Vineyard.
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After four years as General Manager of The Vineyard, near Newbury, Berkshire, Paul Shanahan has left the hotel to head up hospitality at Holland & Holland’s shooting ground in West London.
Andrew McKenzie, Managing Director, explained: “The hospitality world is an ever-evolving series of doors opening and closing, so Paul’s departure allows The Vineyard to promote Chris Smith to General Manager and Judit Balonka to Deputy General Manager.
Between them they have over 12 years of experience at The Vineyard, so we can guarantee a welcome level of consistency along with new energy and ideas. With Executive Chef Tom Scade doing great things in the kitchen, and Head Sommelier Romain Bourger overseeing our 30,000 bin wine cellar, we have a great, young and dynamic team.”
South African born, Chris Smith has been at The Vineyard since 2015 when he joined the company as Food & Beverage Operations Manager, moving to Operations Manager in early 2019, and then in June 2021 to Deputy General Manager (Judit succeeds him in that role).
Prior to working at the hotel, he was Director of Food & Beverage at Foxhills Country Club & Resort (2014-15), and Food & Beverage Manager at Stoke Park Country Club, Spa & Hotel (2011-14), having been Conference & Banqueting Manager there (2010-11), and prior to that Deputy Conference & Banqueting Manager (2008-10).
Having graduated from The International Hotel School in 2007, Chris’s hospitality career started in Johannesburg at The Hilton Sandton as a Management Intern, progressing to Conference & Banqueting Floor Manager (2007-8).