New Head Chef Announced for Top Yorkshire Dales Hotel

A new kitchen, a refurbished dining room and now a new chef complete the 2024 relaunch of Samuel’s Restaurant at Swinton Park Hotel.

Struan Macintyre will be leading the team delivering fantastic fine dining menus and tasting experiences at the heart of the Swinton Estate.

Struan has grown an excellent reputation working at some of the top hotels around North Yorkshire, including Aldwark Manor, Grantley Hall, the Principal and Hotel du Vin in York, as well as setting up the award-winning Alexander’s Grand Café and Bar in Skipton.

“We are thrilled to have Struan leading a new era for Samuel’s here at Swinton Park, and we are looking forward to how he takes forward our estate-to-plate ethos of bringing the freshest, Estate grown and reared produce to the discerning fine-dining audience here,” comments the general manager, Paul Hunter.

“We completed work on the kitchens earlier this year, introducing a £500k investment in state-of-the-art technology to deliver a significant reduction in energy use. The dining room itself has been stylishly redesigned, so what better time is there to rediscover the finest Yorkshire food?”

Samuel’s at Swinton Park Hotel serves traditional British ‘brasserie’ food with a contemporary twist, built around a core of seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden and wider estate.

An impressive wine cellar provides the complement to any dish, from Swinton Park Hotel Pork Wellington to East Coast Cod Loin; a sommelier is on hand to advise on appropriate pairings of food and wine.

The restaurant is also known for its incredible Sunday lunch – perfect for family get-togethers over hearty local fare – and as one of Yorkshire’s top spots for Afternoon Tea overlooking the country estate.

Samuel’s is not the only fine-dining experience available to gastrophiles at Swinton Park Hotel. The hotel offers an intimate ‘chef’s table’ with Josh Barnes – a chef who has worked in some of the UK’s finest Michelin-accredited restaurants – within Swinton Cookery School, which has also been refurbished this year.

From an opulent drinks reception through an eight-course menu cooked in front of diners’ eyes, Chef’s Table by Josh Barnes is available Wednesday to Saturday from 7:00 pm, and for lunch on Saturdays from 12:30 pm.

It is the ambition of chief executive, Iain Shelton, that the recent dining developments will help the Swinton Park Hotel achieve its first Michelin star and build on its already impressive two AA Rosettes.

“With Josh’s Chef’s Tables being so well received, and Struan keeping the Samuel’s experience at such a high level, we’ve got our eye on some top accolades,” says Iain.

For more information on the refurbishments or about the Swinton Park Hotel, visit their website.

Swinton Park Hotel, Ripon HG4 4JH – 01765 680900 | Get Directions