The award-winning Coniston Hotel and Country Estate has appointed its long-standing general manager as its new director.

Louise Bolton, who joined the hotel as a trainee receptionist in 1998, and has been general manager since 2004, has been named hotel director.

In addition, the hotel has appointed Norbert Stump, whose career includes the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and Hotel 41 in London, as its general manager in charge of day-to-day running of the hotel.

Simon Farrimond, formerly front of house at the Angel at Hetton and deputy general manager at the Rendezvous, Skipton, has been appointed food and beverage manager.

Michael Bannister, hotel owner, said the appointments represented a watershed for the hotel and would allow it to provide the best food, service and hospitality.

“In promoting Louise to hotel director, we are recognising her skills, professionalism and dedication to the hotel and wider business for the last 16 years, and in bringing in people of the calibre of Norbert and Simon, we are ensuring that our overall expectations, but especially our food offering in Macleods Restaurant and The Huntsman’s Experience, go from strength to strength,” he said.

Louise, instrumental in the growth and performance of the hotel and its awards, including being highly commended in the Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards, will head a 90-strong team across all departments.

Norbert, who joins the hotel from The Merton Hotel in Jersey, will work closely with Louise and Mr Bannister and has aspirations to win a AA rosette for Macleods Restaurant in addition to developing a new hotel spa.

Simon, who during his time at The Angel was named Gastropub’s Front of House Manager of the Year, will be in charge of food and drink and will work closely with head chef Chris Oakden towards an AA Rosette.