Overseeing the operation and management of the Layton Hill Hotels company properties. Working hand in glove with the owner/directors Chirs and Rebecca Layton. We are coming from humble beginnings with just two properties, one in York and one in Ripon, with an eye on future projects. The future is an exciting prospect.

The Old Deanery is an exclusive use Jacobean mansion in the heart of Ripon, in the shadows of the stunning Ripon Cathedral. We are an independently owned wedding and events venue, with a small friendly team helping to organise your special day. In addition to the main function room, the building boasts a grand reception area (complete with a red-carpet entrance!), two smaller function rooms, 9 bedrooms and, of course, our magnificent grounds and gardens, perfect for photographs. When not in use for a wedding or event, The Old Deanery is a private residence, and we do not currently offer traditional hotel accommodation for individual bookings, nor do we have a restaurant to offer meals or refreshments. If this changes in the future we will announce this on our website and social media.

Chirs and Rebecca are two exceptional people who have a vision for hospitality that has been missed, Chris creates an exceptional venue, Rebecca fosters a fantastic team, and I have the privilege of bringing their vision to fruition.Galtres Lodge is an independently owned hotel in the very centre of York. Small yet perfectly formed, the building was originally two Georgian townhouses, which have been combined to make this charming 12-bedroom hotel and restaurant. Step out of the doors onto the busy shopping street of Low Petergate, and turn the corner to see the magnificent York Minster, situated immediately behind the hotel. We are exceptionally proud of our location, with Petergate being most visitors’ favourite part of York. Our neighbours include some unique boutiques in characterful buildings, specialist stores, and some of the best luxury brands in the UK. There are also numerous bars and eateries, none of which can compete with our own on-site restaurant, of course!

In 2017 after just the right amount of the good stuff, James, Simon and David set about launching the Malton Gin Festival. Hosted by the Talbot Malton and supported by McMillans of Malton, held in the stunning York House Marquee, 2018 saw the first festival to bring Yorkshire producers (and a few foreigners from the south) together over 3 days to drink, dance, eat and generally be merry.The key was making sure people actually got to meet the distillers, talk to the producers and enjoyed their drink that little bit more knowing the roots of where it came from.‘The most civilised gin festival in the UK’ was the take away from 2018 and with almost 600 guests over the weekend a repeat was inevitable. 2019 saw the festival grow and take on a distinctively more Yorkshire feel, showcasing the best the county has to offer. More dancing, more eating and yes more drinking.Simon, James and David have continued to drive the festival, adding to the value of Yorkshire’s Food Capital and ensuring everyone has a great day out.Keep it small, keep it intimate and keep it fun, the Malton Gin Festival is here to stay, hope to see you next year!​

A friendly and inclusive environment to learn recipes and cooking techniques, we can accommodate up to a maximum of 10 students at a time, socially distanced in a comfortable setting. A place to cook, eat, drink and enjoy a great day out while focusing on great Yorkshire produce with fish from the East Coast, game from the Moors and meat from across the county.Courses ranging from classic seafood to home baking and everything in between, something for everyone of all ages and skill level. Located in the heart of Malton at Talbot Yard forms part of a great day out in Yorkshire's Food Capital.Great for yourself, as a couple, a gift for others or a group of friends together, The Cooks Place is a great place to develop your passion for cooking or learn some essential life skills (over a glass of wine of course).

Currently consulting with several businesses on their teams and management structures while transitioning into a more direct project management role. After many years in the hospitality industry, I’m focused on shifting my career into a new direction, taking the skills and experience from managing multiple businesses, projects and teams and applying these directly into a project management role.

From inception to operation I led the team in design, budgeting, marketing and eventual operation of the 200 cover York House Wedding Venue. Working within the constraints of a Grade II listed building and while still managing the Talbot Malton Hotel we successfully opened the doors in April 2017. We achieved around £130k in net revenue in the first year, doubling in the 2nd and on track to achieve the targeted £500k by year 4. Critically we set ourselves apart from other venues with a streamlined approach to booking, costs and by employing a casual work force ensured that we achieved our profitability targets by the end of year two. More than a wedding venue the space is utilised all year round with festivals, conferences, Christmas events and charities making use of the venue.

Driving the vision of the clients towards creating Yorkshire’s Food Capital. Achieved through expanding the businesses within the town and developing the existing properties. The client would set the broad scope and I would bring together the necessary resources to develop and then achieve this. Projects included the opening of Malton Cookery School, multiple festival events throughout the year such as concerts, food festivals and a marathon, a purpose-built wedding venue and major rebranding of the hotel.

Management of the 44 bedroom hotel with Bistro, Bar and private dining functions. I am building on the HDV brand name with a team of 50. From marketing to recruitment, purchasing and budgetary management each du Vin is run quite independently to achieve the goals of the company. We in York are focused to provide the very best in accommodation, food and drink through an excellent and committed team who have the passion and freedom to grow the brand. During difficult trading conditions we have continued to grow year on year in all areas of the business, increasing market share and developing the product while still maintaining bottom line results.