Award-winning pub brings in exec head chef

Boutique Cotswolds hotel Wild Thyme & Honey has appointed David Brown as executive head chef of its village pub and restaurant The Crown at Ampney Brook. 

The Gloucestershire Pub & Bar of the Year is joined to the Wild Thyme & Honey venue, with the two operations blending a hotel and pub/restaurant offering across the same grounds.

With over 15 years’ experience in the industry, Brown (pictured) joins from Lewtrenchard Manor in Devon where he held the position as head chef and was responsible for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, as well as menu curation and execution. 

Having also formed longstanding relationships with some of the best suppliers in the country, hotel guests and diners can expect farm-to-table modern British menus that roll with seasons, making the most of the centuries-old farmers and local suppliers in the neighboring area to source quality meat, fish and vegetables. 

"I am incredibly excited to join the brigade at Wild Thyme & Honey and put everything I’ve learned from my career into the executive head chef role," says Brown. "Our venue is stunning and it’s imperative the quality of food remains an extension of the beautiful surroundings. My objective is to maintain and further its reputation as a gastronomic destination, where every guest has an amazing experience from the moment they walk through the doors until they leave."

Wild Thyme & Honey opened in December 2021 and has 24 bedrooms. The Crown scooped its County Pub & Bar of the Year award at the 2023 National Pub & Bar Awards.

"We are absolutely delighted to welcome David Brown to the team," says Drew Brown, managing director at Grosvenor Pubs and Inns, which owns the site. "David’s ambition, passion for the hospitality industry and extensive experience are evident as soon as you meet him, and we are confident he will be a positive and inspiring leader in the kitchen."

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