Press Release: Rob Preston

The rapidly growing Legacy Hotels and Resorts has announced its first director of food and beverage as it expands into new markets.

Rob Preston has been appointed to the role to assist in the development of the group’s hotel food and liquor offering plus assist with driving the growth of management contracts in the arena of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

He will also be responsible for the operation of a further addition to the group’s portfolio – the Hertford House Hotel in Fore Street, Hertford, and its on-site Elbert Wurlings nightclub.

Rob has vast experience in the hospitality sector after starting as a part-time bar tender at Centre Parcs in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, and moving through the ranks to being manager of the resort’s Country Club.

The 39-year-old was head-hunted to be general manager at The Living Room in Liverpool and he then ran its basement club Mosquito. He later took over at the flag ship Living Room in Manchester before gaining promotion as director of operations to open sites within the group across the country.

Rob went on to develop and manage his own portfolio of restaurants, bars and clubs in Liverpool – the Alma de Cuba and The Noble House – before selling his shares in early summer this year.

Rob, who lives in Formby, Merseyside, is looking forward to the challenges ahead within Legacy Hotels and Resorts which include overseeing the 22 boutique bedroom Georgian-style Hertford House Hotel and its Elbert Wurlings nightclub which opens every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“There will be multiple challenges which I’m relishing,” he said. “The existing food and beverages division has a turnover in excess of £9 million and I will be looking at the ways in which we can increase that and improve the service levels, style and food offerings.

“There is also the challenge of the Hertford House Hotel and turning it into a school of excellence, given its high street retail presence, to trial different dishes and drinks which may be rolled out throughout the group.

“I have also joined the board of directors as Legacy Hotels and Resorts move to create a separate division of the group to target and manage the turnaround and recovery of retail food, beverage and nightclub venues for the first time.”

Andy Townsend, chief executive officer of Legacy Hotels and Resorts, said he was pleased to welcome Rob to the group’s management.

“We have built our business as specialists in the management of three and four star brand and non-branded hotels,” he said.

“In the six years we have been trading that has been extremely successful and we now have over 2,000 rooms throughout the portfolio in the UK and southern Spain.

“There is an increasing requirement now for specialist companies, other than simply ‘pub operators’ to run restaurants, bars and clubs and with Rob’s experience we are moving into a new arena in which he has vast knowledge and contacts.

“We are planning to further drive the business forward by seeking out management opportunities within restaurants, bars and nightclubs across the country of which Rob will be a key driver.”

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