Are you interested in discovering innovations in hotel kitchens?

At Stanwell House, we’ve installed a first-of-its-kind cooking range from the UK’s leading supplier of induction cookers.

Read on to discover all about our new, multi-functional cooking suite:

Hotel Kitchens | Stanwell House

Our boutique hotel in Hampshire has undergone a transformational refurbishment, creating a stunning, luxurious staycation; combining quirkiness with comfort.

As part of our renovation, we’ve been making conscious and sustainable decisions wherever possible. By future-proofing the hotel, we’ve ensured that we’ve created a space ready for modern kitchen management. 

Utilising state-of-the-art equipment and designing the kitchen with operational delivery at its core, our ambition has been to create a space where culinary professionals can thrive. 

Once finalised, our offering will help us be considered as one of the leading hotel kitchens in the New Forest to work and develop a culinary career. 

Hotel Kitchens | Celsius Black and Data Lounge

So, why did we opt for the Celsius Black and Data Lounge? 

Earlier this year, we saw a demonstration of Celsius Black and Data Lounge at HRC. Following this exhibition, we collectively made the decision to invest in the future.

The demonstration particularly sealed the deal for our executive chef, Chris Wheeldon. He loved the cooker’s unrivalled control, wealth of information and flexibility of design.

Exclusive Ranges then set up the high-tech Celsius Black cooking range by Menu System with full ‘Data Lounge’ at our Hampshire hotel — the first of its kind to be installed in the UK.

Hotel Kitchens | About Exclusive Ranges

Exclusive Ranges has built more than 3,000 cookers and installed over 200 kitchens in restaurants nationwide, including more than 50 Michelin Starred restaurants. 

Exclusive Range’s ‘Data Lounge’ is set to revolutionise hotel kitchens across the UK. We’re delighted to say that we’re the first to implement this latest cooking range. 

Investing in quality and innovative technology will help us to provide the ultimate guest experience once our doors open.

Exclusive Ranges | The Benefits of Industry-Leading Technology

By installing Exclusive Ranges, we’ll create a better working environment for our staff.

The induction hob helps to make the kitchen a cooler working space. It also compliments our responsible practices by cutting carbon emissions, managing kitchen ambience and saving costs. 

This industry-leading technology allows personnel to view and monitor the performance of individual appliances. This is achieved by showcasing the cost of running them in real time. 

The Data Lounge has the ability to fully manage power usage, peak usage, and will send service and maintenance alerts offering active service prevention. 

Daily, monthly or annual reports also showcase power input, capacity, consumption, operating times and start of operation, in real-time.

Exclusive Ranges | Why Our General Manager’s Excited

What does our General Manager, Lance Bartlett, think of our brand-new kitchen technology?

Initially starting his career in the kitchen, it’s no wonder Lance is excited about the new installation. Lance said: “We’re really excited to have the UK’s first cooking range by Menu System installed in our kitchen and we’re excited to see what culinary masterpieces our executive chef Chris Wheeldon and his team will produce using the new equipment.

We have been investing in all areas of the hotel, and the kitchen is no exception. We want our guests to be wowed when they visit and to be able to notice our commitment into making the hotel a luxury boutique with thought and detail going into every aspect of Stanwell House.”

For more information about our installation of a UK-first cooking range, please visit our website.

If you’re interested in working at our boutique hotel, please email your CV and a cover letter to [email protected]. 

At Stanwell House, we’re working around the clock to ensure everything is perfect and ready for guests as soon as our doors open. 

Alongside a complete upmarket redesign, our hotel will be offering three brand-new dining experiences, overseen by our exceptional executive chef, Chris Wheeldon. 

Read on to find out more about Chris and his colourful career in hospitality catering:

Hospitality Catering | Chris’s Role at Stanwell House

Chris has been an integral part of our Stanwell House team since September 2021.

Utilising his skills in hospitality catering, he’s created our new menus from scratch, incorporating seasonal dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. He’s also worked closely with the Restaurant team to ensure our amazing new dining areas are ready for our launch in December.

Chris has overseen the kitchen refurbishment process from the start, alongside building contractors Charnic Interiors, working to ensure the highest quality end result. 

Chris said: “I have many hats, not just cooking! I’m also a food safety inspector, have worked as a social worker, and am a friend and father! All of which benefit the role.

“These skills help me when looking after staff and making sure they have what they need, emotionally as well as physically.”

Stanwell House | Chris’s Approach to Hospitality Catering

Having a planned approach to managing the kitchen is incredibly important in order for things to run as planned. 

Speaking of his approach to hospitality catering, Chris said: “I like a relaxed approach; you need to motivate the staff. My philosophy is in the 21st century — and kitchens need to be managed right. People want to come to work and enjoy what they’ve got to work with.

“The Gordon Ramsey style of management has its place in the distant past. For me personally, it’s not for us. We need to be positive, and educational — give people their balance, let them develop.”

Stanwell House | Chris’ Journey Through Hospitality and Catering

Chris’ journey through hospitality and catering started young. He said: “My mother was a great cook; she didn’t have much money, but was always able to make something out of nothing. She always managed to put a dessert on the table!”

However, Chris also told us that education wasn’t really his strong suit growing up. He said: “School— I just couldn’t do it! I was hopeless at things like woodwork and metalwork, so I went to home economics and instantly loved it.”

After finding his passion, Chris went to Highbury College to achieve his Higher National Diploma before working in 4* hotels such as Careys Manor and Balmer Lawn Hotel, where he helped with the opening of their new Lodge Kitchen and Bar.

Looking for a new challenge, Chris was drawn to Stanwell House, and said: “What attracted me was the chance to redesign a kitchen for the 21st century; it should be something really special. I cannot fault Lance — I arrived in September, and he has supported me and backed me 100%. 

Lance has let me get on with the work, and at every point of call, we’ve gone through and discussed. His cheffing background means I couldn’t ask for a better person to be working with.”

Stanwell House | Looking to the Future

At Stanwell House, we’re building a state-of-the-art kitchen for the future, centred around a multi-functional cooking suite. 

We’ve taken a step into the future and opted for a cooking range by Menu System with its Celsius Black and full Data Lounge — the first-ever installation in the UK.  

Speaking of the new cooking range, Chris said: “The choice of equipment and reason to go induction is very much because electric induction will be more profitable and more environmentally friendly than gas in the long term.  I can’t wait to see how well the live-fire kitchen does — for me, that’s very exciting!”

Chris is an incredibly passionate chef who brings an abundance of knowledge and talent to our team. 

Discussing his plans for the future of Stanwell House, he said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the project open and blossom. There are going to be a lot of things thrown into the mix that we’re not expecting. 

“I’m also excited about building a fresh team; I already have a few guys already picked out and I want to see if they get on and work well together.” 

Chris thinks that Stanwell House is going to be fresh, new and vibrant. He said, “From a food point of view, we’ll be using a lot of local suppliers with a heavy fish influence.

It’s going to be a very exciting food operation with lots of options. I want the kitchen to be laid out and designed to deliver enough food for all the outlets, with the use of electric induction equipment to make it a more enjoyable experience for staff, as it’s cooler than a normal kitchen. 

“Plus, with new equipment, we can be environmentally cleaner by returning any food waste back to ground.”

Hospitality Catering | Chris’s Advice for the Career Path

If a career in hospitality catering is something that piques your interest, Chris has some brilliant advice.

He said: “Try and find an operation where you’ll enjoy working. Hospitality and catering is hard work; the hours are long, but the rewards are massive if you’re passionate. If you can find an employer who is as passionate as we are, go and work for them.”

We’re currently undergoing refurbishment at our boutique hotel in Hampshire. For more information and a sneak peek at our progress, please visit our website, where you can sign up for our monthly newsletter.

If you’re interested in joining Chris and working at Stanwell House, please email your CV and a cover letter to [email protected]. 

Are you looking at job vacancies in Hampshire?

Here at Stanwell House, we’re committed to creating a strong, dedicated and skilled workforce in a bid to put our local area of Lymington on the map.

In this blog, we’re introducing our hotel manager, Lisa, and sharing details of her journey in hospitality, alongside her insights into the sector to help drive recruitment in the local area:

Job Vacancies in Hampshire | Meet Lisa

Lisa is one of the key driving forces of operations at Stanwell House. Having joined the team when the new owners purchased the hotel in May 2021, Lisa looks after all aspects of our hotel. 

Her main responsibilities range from overseeing all departments relating to the running of hotel accommodation and guest experience, from housekeeping and reception to public relations, customer service and guest retention — with a bit of everything else in between. 

Lisa maintains the smooth running of hotel operations by ensuring the happiness of the staff and guests in her care. This is achieved through strong communication, organisation and collaboration and most of all, a strong sense of team and support. 

Job Vacancies in Hampshire | Career Background

Lisa discovered a strong passion for the hospitality sector at a young age. Preferring a more hands-on approach to learning, she opted to undertake a business management qualification, enabling her to learn alongside working and gaining real experience.

She moved from her native Zimbabwe to England to pursue her chosen career path. Following her ambitious move, she worked as a receptionist for a number of hotels, gaining valuable experience and becoming a senior manager at just 22.

Taking a sidestep from the industry, Lisa used the transferable skills she obtained in the various roles she’d had to build a successful career in the legal and accounting sectors. She then rediscovered her passion for the hospitality sector and returned to the industry to take on a new challenge as hotel manager at Stanwell House.

Job Vacancies in Hampshire | Transferable Skills

There’s no doubt that working in hospitality offers many transferable skills — and Lisa is a great example of this.

She believes that having gained varied experience across an array of hospitality, legal and accounting roles gave her a real understanding of the manager she wanted to be. Striving to adopt an empathetic approach, Lisa believes you should treat people well, irrespective of their background or job title. 

When asked how her experience and skills have impacted her management practices, Lisa responded: “I think it makes me a better leader because I have the understanding of what all those job roles involve and what’s expected of them. 

I think it helps you narrow the gap between expectation and reality, as opposed to simply saying ‘I don’t care how you do it, just make it happen’. You understand what’s involved, how what you are saying can impact the person you are speaking to and if what you are asking is reasonable. 

Ultimately, there’s a fundamental difference between the skills you need to be a hotel manager and the skills you need to be just a leader. The crucial thing is actually understanding the difference because there is a big one.”

Job Vacancies in Hampshire | Advice for Future Recruits

Hospitality is an ever-growing sector, comprising various opportunities for growth and self-progression.

When asked what advice she has for anyone considering a career in hospitality, Lisa said: “I would say it’s a huge and wonderful opportunity. Hospitality as an industry is always keen to support its own. Once you’re in, you can work your way up the ladder or into other areas of the business that might interest you, which isn’t always the case in other industries. We have a number of people already working in the hotel, who are working example of just that. For example, one of our receptionists started in the restaurant, working as our breakfast supervisor, but after a couple of years, was interested in a new challenge and is now a fantastic receptionist.”

It’s also really easy to reap the rewards from your job. There’s real job satisfaction there. It can be hard sometimes, but at the same time, you get back what you put in.

You do a good job, you know straight away if you’ve done a good job because you can see it on the faces of the guests you are looking after. It’s there immediately. If you’re doing a job right, you’ll know instantly. 

Something I’m really keen to shout about is that there’s more flexibility now than ever before. I’m a huge advocate for allowing the industry to change in a way that it can adapt, particularly in regard to accepting people on different terms and accepting when they can work. After all, it’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance.”

Job Vacancies in Hampshire | Stanwell House

Our hotel, Stanwell House, is a privately owned boutique hotel situated in the centre of Lymington. Following our multi-million pound refurbishment, we’re offering various job vacancies in Hampshire — with a predominant objective of recruiting like-minded individuals to create a kind, skilled and dedicated team. 

Speaking of the benefits of working at Stanwell House, Lisa said: “The owners are incredibly loyal to their staff, and they genuinely want those working for them to be well looked after. This kind of ethos really filters right through into the depths of the business, feeding from the very top to the very bottom.

Stanwell House is also a really enjoyable hotel to work in, and learn, from due to its manageable size. We’re big enough to hold events, but small enough to ensure that guests are still known by their names – especially because we’ve only got 27 rooms.

At Stanwell House, you’ve got the opportunity to move those skills that you learn with us onto bigger places, or smaller places, if you so wish.

I’m really passionate about finding people who speak to the industry – giving them the space to grow and progress in order to unlock their full potential. Ultimately, by creating job vacancies in Hampshire, we hope to boost the local economy whilst simultaneously creating a strong, happy and skilled workforce – after all, if staff are happy, our guests are happy, too!”

If you’re scoping out job vacancies in hospitality, and are interested in joining our expanding team, please email us your CV. We’d love to hear from you, irrespective of background and previous professional experience.

Alternatively, to keep up to date with the latest developments of Stanwell House, please visit our website or browse our social media channels.

Ahead of our imminent reopening, we’re delighted to introduce our general manager, Lance, as he shares his experience of working at our boutique hotel in Hampshire.

Read on to discover his unique journey through the industry, and gain a  ‘sneak peek’ into the exciting developments of our transformational refurbishment:

Boutique Hotel in Hampshire | Meet Our General Manager, Lance Bartlett

Lance initially began his career in hospitality working as a chef in hotels, restaurants and pubs, before becoming General Manager here at Stanwell House.

Lance developed a strong passion for food and hospitality growing up in Africa. He developed essential skills and experience, which helped him forge his own path in the industry.

Once he finished school, Lance moved to the United Kingdom and became a chef. Utilising his love of cooking, Lance’s dedication and skills earned him roles in various multi-Rosette and Michelin-star restaurants. Always looking for a new challenge, Lance evolved to move from working in the kitchen, focusing his efforts on management.

Boutique Hotel in Hampshire | Background and Training 

Lance continued to develop his skills and experience whilst working in a range of different and challenging roles across the hospitality sector. In a profession that requires many levels of skill, Lance shared the importance of working alongside colleagues and mentors within different environments; learning from them and developing his culinary style and professional practice. 

Noting the importance of this experience and the transferable skills he obtained, Lance said, “I want to see Stanwell House as a place where you can learn from others. We all have something exciting to bring to the table — whether it’s the high-quality dish, or the special, personalised service.” 

In addition, Lance recognises that working in hospitality provides key transferable life skills. Keen to convey the opportunities within the sector, Lance added: “Once you have the experience under your belt, you can go anywhere you want in the world. There is so much support out there.”

About Our Refurbishment

One of his biggest projects to date has been the refurbishment of Stanwell House. Lance shared: “A project on this scale will always have its ups and downs, but with hard work and a determined team, together we will make it a success. 

An important aspect of the renovation was protecting the original structure and Georgian features of the Grade II listed building, requiring diligent care and attention from the team. 

Lance shared how the project is bringing something different, ambitious and high-quality to the area, saying: “The most exciting part is taking on something new and seeing how it works, while keeping it as a place that locals and guests from further away can enjoy and feel welcome.”

Standing Out From the Crowd | Making Stanwell House Unique

At Stanwell House, we’re working to create a beautiful, boutique hotel in Hampshire with quirkiness, luxury and comfort at its heart.

Lance said, “We’re creating a gastro pub and a beautiful brand-new restaurant comprising fresh, local produce. We’ve also created a brand new events space, creating new opportunities for meetings, private dining and gatherings, which is something that is missing from Lymington at the moment.

We’ve been recruiting new staff for the opening; I want to form a strong team, with staff acting as role models for their colleagues, reinforcing the hotel as a welcoming space for everyone.” 

Boutique Hotel in Hampshire | The Future of Stanwell House

When describing the completed boutique hotel in Hampshire, Lance said: “We’re forging a welcoming, family-friendly environment to work in. The surroundings and the features that we’re implementing will ensure a luxurious but relaxed vibe, which will be reinforced by a team of like-minded individuals.

We’re providing some wonderful opportunities at Stanwell House, with long-term, rewarding prospects. Our team is going to be paid right, have a great work-life balance and always be rewarded. I want them to stick around with us for a long time.”

Stanwell House | Something to Look Forward to

When asked what he’s excited about regarding the future of our hotel, Lance said: “I’m looking forward to growing and building a team as strong as any team I have previously worked with. 

I want to create career opportunities within Lymington and be the place that changes people’s perception of what working in hospitality is — I want people to want to work with us and be a part of something which I feel is truly unique and full of opportunity! 

I think if we succeed in this, Stanwell House will be somewhere very special for both guests and my team.”

For more information and a sneak peek at our progress, please visit our website where you can sign up for our monthly newsletter.
If you’re interested in working at our boutique hotel in Hampshire, please email your CV and a cover letter to [email protected].