“Thomas Ferrante, General Manager, Gilpin Hotel & Lake House”
Thomas Ferrante has been named the General Manager of Gilpin Hotel & Lake House. Ferrante comes to Gilpin from Seren, the management company behind the Grove of Narberth, where he served as Group Director of Operations.
With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ferrante firmly believes that a team of happy people is crucial to the success of any hospitality business. This belief is what attracted him to Gilpin.
Situated in the Lake District, just four miles from Windermere, the AA 5 Red Star Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is a family-owned and operated establishment. It comprises two hotels on separate estates, located just over a mile apart.
Ferrante's initial foray into the hospitality industry began in the kitchen, but he soon transitioned from chef whites to front-of-house attire. He quickly advanced to become the Food & Beverage Operations Manager at The Berkeley Hotel, where he spent seven years. Following this, he moved to Malta to assume the position of Hotel Manager at The Phoenicia.
Most recently, Ferrante returned to the UK, specifically Pembrokeshire in Wales, where he spent five years leading the team at Grove of Narberth as General Manager and then Hotel Director. He then took on the role of Group Director of Operations, overseeing Seren’s portfolio of hotels and restaurants.
Gilpin’s GM, Thomas Ferrante said: “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 & Zoë Cunliffe, owners of Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, said: “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.”
