New General Manager
Thomas Ferrante, who has worked in luxury hotels throughout the world, has been appointed General Manager at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House
Thomas Ferrante joins Gilpin Hotel & Lake House from Seren, the management company behind Grove of Narberth, where he held the position of Group Director of Operations.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Thomas is a firm believer that the key to success within any hospitality business is a team of happy people, which is why he was drawn to Gilpin.
Located in the beautiful Lake District, just four miles from Windermere, the AA 5 Red Star family-owned and run Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is made up of two hotels on two separate estates, just over a mile away from each other. Both are elegant, relaxing havens of luxury offering the ultimate in wellness experiences and are the perfect locations for special occasions. Home to two restaurants, the Michelin-starred SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel with chef Ollie Bridgwater at the helm, and the contemporary pan-Asian Gilpin Spice.
Thomas’ first experience of the world of hospitality was in the kitchen, but he soon swapped his chef whites for front of house attire, quickly working his way up to Food & Beverage Operations Manager at The Berkeley Hotel, where he stayed for seven years, before relocating to Malta to take on the role of Hotel Manager at The Phoenicia. His most recent roles saw him return to the UK, this time to Pembrokeshire in Wales, with five years leading the team at Grove of Narberth in the position of General Manager and then Hotel Director, before overseeing Seren’s portfolio of hotels and restaurants as Group Director of Operations.
Commenting on his appointment as Gilpin’s GM, Thomas says: “The owners of Gilpin Hotel & Lake House have a strong ethos. They have built the property from a set of family values which really resonated with me, particularly the guest-focused nature and development of people.
“I am thrilled to have joined a fantastic team. Gilpin is a truly special property, located in one of the most picturesque destinations in the world. It has a really unique spirit, it’s both a ‘special occasion’ place with a real buzz, yet at the same time from the moment you arrive you feel right at home – simply put, you just want to spend time here. The food scene in the Lake District, of which Gilpin is a key player, is outstanding too and attracts visitors from far and wide, there is a lot of opportunity to grow.
“I am passionate about people and working with the teams to help them reach their full potential. I believe that by continuing to nurture its people, Gilpin can further establish itself as being a beacon for quality and a centre of excellence for hospitality in not only the Lake District, but the country as a whole. The opportunity to join Gilpin and help the team be the very best they can be is an honour.”
Barney and Zoë Cunliffe, owners of Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, added: “Thomas brings with him a wealth of experience of managing luxury hotels in the UK and abroad, predominately with family-owned, award-winning 5 Red Star hotels similar to ours, with a very strong cuisine emphasis. He has a proven track record and is commercially driven, as well as having a strong belief in team and guest recognition, both of which are at the heart of Gilpin.
“We’ve known the owners of the Grove at Narberth for years through POB, and they described Thomas as ‘a genuine lovely people person who was instrumental in bringing our team together’. We are absolutely delighted that he has joined our team, who are all very special to us.”
