Welcome to +1 News
Welcome to +1 News. This is the hub of news and stories of what's going on at English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues. Our regular sections will include Hotel News, Staff Profiles, +1 Leaderboard, including some of the great +1 Activities around the group, Well Done & Congratulations, and Days Out in Lake District & Lancashire.
Expansion of Board of Directors
From L to R: Matt Wilkinson, Finance Director; Matt Stanaway, Group Operations Director; Ben Berry, Managing Director; Teresa Lawrence, Group Sales Director; Simon Berry, Executive Chairman; Michael Kay, Group Leisure Director
In May 2022 English Lakes expanded the executive board. Ben Berry takes the reins as Group Managing Director, whilst Simon Berry transfers into a newly created role of Executive Chairman. The business has been in the Berry family for over 60 years and we congratulate Ben on his new role.
Previously group managers, Teresa Lawrence, Matt Stanaway and Michael Kay all take up promotions to the Board as Sales, Hotel Operations and Leisure Directors respectively.
"Teresa, Matt and Michael have all enjoyed long, successful careers with the group and their knowledge, experience and decision-making input at the board table will be invaluable as we move the business forward.
There's no doubt that we've significantly strengthened the board with these new appointments as we look forward to some exciting times ahead for our venues, staff and guests."
"Ben takes over as managing director, taking charge of the day to day running of the business and allowing me to take more of an oversight and planning role."
+1 Leaderboard (Top 20)
Our +1 Culture is all about going the extra mile and exceeding the expectations of our guests' and our colleagues. Every month there's a long list of those who have done just that, but here are the Top Twenty on our Leaderboard.
| Name | Unit or Hotel | Number of Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Lemm | The Midland | 86 |
| Brian Jenkins | The Midland | 85 |
| Adam Bujok | The Wild Boar | 77 |
| Ilse Bujok | The Wild Boar | 76 |
| Michelle Croukamp | Low Wood Bay | 71 |
| Darren Cornforth | The Midland | 70 |
| Natalia Morzecka | The Wild Boar | 68 |
| Mark Burnhill | The Wild Boar | 64 |
| Dorota Nowaczek | The Midland | 63 |
| Emma Underwood | Lancaster House | 63 |
| Debbie Oliver | Low Wood Bay | 61 |
| Lina Markstedt | The Wild Boar | 60 |
| Linda Watkins | The Wild Boar | 60 |
| Hannah Mcquire | The Midland | 58 |
| Beau Irwin | Low Wood Bay | 57 |
| Filip Kierasinski | Low Wood Bay | 54 |
| Kev Hardy | The Midland | 54 |
| Clair Dickson | English Lakes | 52 |
| Heather Baker | The Wild Boar | 49 |
| Mark Needham | Low Wood Bay | 46 |
Your +1 Stories
Listed below are just a few recent stories of how you, our colleagues, fulfilled your roles +1 this month and helped to ensure that our guests and visitors expectations were exceeded.
Lancaster House
Derek Buttle
It was a really busy breakfast and a child wanted dippy eggs and soldiers. Although Derek was really busy, he kindly went out of his way to make them.
Ian Pashley
After finishing his shift, Ian helped out a guest whose car battery had gone flat. The guest was very appreciative when Ian helped him jump start the car.
Toni Hayward
Toni went to the local supermarket after a late reception shift to buy a pair of tights for a guest who had forgotten hers and who was attending a wedding. He brought them in the following morning for the guest who was very grateful.
Faye McGuinness
An elderly lady collapsed while attending a family meal, Faye assisted the lady by giving first aid and made sure she was comfortable until the paramedics arrived. One of the guest’s family members wrote in to say how appreciative they were.
Sandpiper Club
Lauren Townson & Michelle Squires
A guest had been on a spa day and left a necklace in a dressing gown pocket. Lauren & Michelle went through the whole trolley, checking all the used dressing gown pockets, until they found the necklace
Katie Phillips
A guest came in to have her nails done and told Katie that she had got engaged the previous day. Katie came straight to reception to see what we could do to help her celebrate. She wrote a card and placed it, with some balloons, in the ladies bedroom whilst she was in the bar.
Claire Payne
A guest put her coat in a locker that was a little dusty, so Claire took the coat home washed it and brought it back for her the next day. The guest was very pleased.
Hannah MacDonald
Hannah noticed a regular member was not at aqua fit, which she always attends without fail. Hannah got worried so she gave her a quick ring to check she was ok. Really thoughtful and caring.
The Spa Low Wood Bay
Declan Turner
Declan helped a guest track down his glasses when he misplaced them in the outside Spa area. It was late at night and very dark!
Katie Whiteside
Katie came in on her day off to ensure the laundry was done as the usual member of staff was off sick.
Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa
Leigha Dixon
Leah was working a split shift in Blue Smoke and was due to leave work when she noticed that there was a large amount of pot washing to be done, and the team was already stretched. Leah stayed to deal with all the dirty pots. This was much appreciated by the other team members.
Sophie Eddie
A bride and groom had requested a certain cocktail for their welcome drink. The cocktail required orange blossom honey which needed to be specially ordered. When the honey arrived and it became clear that there wasn’t enough, Sophie stepped in to make some more and saved the day.
Connor Thomas
Whilst he was passing Winander Club, Connor noticed that Debbie was directing a disabled elderly lady to accessible car parking and the lady had a fair amount of luggage. Connor stepped in to deal with the luggage and delivered it to Reception so that Debbie could focus on looking after the guest.
Rachel Baines
Rachel has received much glowing feedback from recent happy brides and grooms who have described how she has gone out of her way to ensure that the wedding day for each couple was extra special. One couple finished their email feedback with the following comment: “Rachel is without doubt a credit to the team and any future brides will be blessed to have her oversee their wedding!”
Johnny Morris
Johnny arrived early for a training course and noticed that the breakfast room was very busy. Although he was not technically on shift, and without being asked, he stepped in to help which took pressure off the rest of the team.
Jack Taylor
Jack noticed that a visitor to the hotel had left the window of his car fully open and it had begun to rain. Knowing who the car belonged to, he located the gentleman who was in a meeting in the hotel. Jack offered to take the car keys and close the car window before returning the keys to the visitor who was very appreciative of Jack’s observations, quick thinking and helpfulness.
The Midland
Carmel Woodhead
Carmel took some external and internal photographs for a journalist who stayed with us and who was writing a piece about the hotel. The guests were very grateful.
Sam Halliday
A corporate guest who was working in Rotunda discovered that their mouse didn’t work on the new tables, Sam came to find a spare mouse mat so that the guest could continue working.
Michael Wilson
Michael went out of his way to attend a local school to do a masterclass in making chocolate brownies with year 9 students. The students really enjoyed it and hopefully Michael’s enthusiasm may turn some of them into chefs of the future.
Michael Eccles
A gentleman was having a formal night in the restaurant with his wife and friends but had forgotten his bow tie and as it was late in the evening, there was nowhere else to go get one at short notice. Michael remembered that the restaurant staff wore black bow ties for the vintage festival and he managed to find one for the guest who was very appreciative.
Kat Jasniewska
A guest came down to reception asking us to clean his muddy shoes for him. Kat took them down to the staff room sink and cleaned them for him.
Sheldon Leigh and Joe Bowman
A guest asked for a recipe for a dessert they really loved and, despite being extremely busy on a Friday night in the restaurant, Sheldon kindly ran over to the kitchen and spoke to Joe who wrote out the recipe for the guest. The guest was truly delighted.
English Lakes Imaginators
Are you an Imaginator? Are you a real ideas person or have spotted an opportunity at work that no one else has thought about? Read up on our English Lakes imaginators.
Congratulations to Emma Underwood, New General Manager of Lancaster House
We are delighted that Emma Underwood has taken the reigns as General Manager of Lancaster House. She is the first female Manager at the hotel and has a huge amount of hospitality experience, and knowledge of the hotel. We look forward to seeing her inspirational leadership and creativity in the months to come.
Read more of Emma's story, her career and her aspirations here.
"Lancaster House is a great place to work - not just because I work there!! We are a family. Guests are always remarking about the way the team interacts and comment about the friendly camaraderie between us. My hope is that every team member will continue to feel value and have a good and positive work life balance."
Our Very Own Master Chef
Daniel Winstanley who heads up our Culinary Academy has been given national recognition as a Master Chef of Great Britain.He was recently invited to the 38th annual Master Chefs of Great Britain lunch in Edinburgh where he was presented with a plaque to mark his induction into the organisation. Daniel’s membership of The Master Chefs of Great Britain underlines his leadership in the hospitality industry and his role as an ambassador for the hotel group.
Congratulations Daniel!
A Great Day Out in Lancashire
Bryan Rojas Pinedo and Lidia Selles Bataller of Lancaster House took a trip up Lancaster Canal on a Kingfisher Cruise. They've shared the experience in a blog which you can read here.
Transfers & Promotions
The Midland
- Tammy Barwell Restaurant supervisor to Restaurant and Banqueting Manager
- Joanne McHugh-Threlfall Restaurant supervisor to Senior Restaurant supervisor
- Naomi Barwell General assistant – Banqueting Supervisor
- Sam Halliday – General Assistant to Trainee bars Supervisor
- James Eccles General Assistant to Trainee Bars Manager
- Michael Eccles – Reception Supervisor to Reception Manager
- Mark Needham and Andy Lemm
- Kim Marshall Reception Manager to Events & wedding coordinator
Lancaster House
- Emma Underwood Assistant Hotel Manager to General Manager
- Harry Newton Restaurant & Bar Manager to Assistant Hotel Manager
- Brandon Finch Restaurant & Banqueting Supervisor To Restaurant & Bar Manager
- Mike Hewitt Maintenance Dept to Maintenance Manager
- Bryan Riojas Pinedo Demi Chef de Partie to Chef de Partie
- Nicole Pilkington Receptionist to Wedding & Events Co-Ordinator
- Callum Ng Food & Beverage Personnel to Restaurant & Bar Supervisor
- Leah Walling Food & Beverage to Restaurant & Bar Supervisor
Low Wood Bay
- Sofia Spadafora - Guest Relations Manager to Front of House Manager
- Jorge De Sousa – Assistant C&B Manager to C&B Manager
- Fern Sergeant – Reception Shift Leader to Head Receptionist
- Gary Potter – Blue Smoke GA to Blue Smoke Supervisor.
- Emil Petrila – Breakfast Chef to Junior Sous Chef
- Antonio Exposito Vizcanino to Housekeeping Supervisor to Snr Housekeeping Supervisor
- Velizar Ivanov – Linen Porter to Senior Housekeeping Supervisor
- Matthew Roberts – KP to to Commis Chef
- Kathy Bailey – Normans GA to Baker
- Jose Masia Sanchez – “W” General Assistant to “W” Supervisor
- Pablo Bolo – Blue Smoke General Assistant to “W” Supervisor
- Sam Rees – Blue Smoke on the Bay Head Chef to Resort Head Chef
The Wild Boar
Ewelina Jozwik - Wedding Co-ordinator to Wedding Co-ordinator, Low Wood Bay
Congratulations to Clare Denham, Lancaster House Reception Supervisor on the birth of Arthur Jeffrey Denham born 25th February weighing 6lb 2oz.
Tell Us Your Story
If you have a relevant +1 New story, or would like to feature in the next edition of +1 News, we would LOVE to hear from you. Just contact either your +1 Rep or Tina on group.content@englishlakes.co.uk and she will do the rest.
+1 Award Nomination Form
Please use the form below to nominate an English Lakes employee for a +1 Award.
Team members can be nominated for a +1 award by guests, visitors, and colleagues. Successful nominees enjoy a series of rewards in the form of certificates, +1 badges, milestone badges, awards lunches, as well as leader board prowess! We love to acknowledge and appreciate the incredible service our dedicated teams provide every day.