Food plays an important role at the Royal York & Faulkner Hotel. Our dinner, room and breakfast package includes traditional English breakfast, afternoon tea and four-course table d’hote dinner, so our kitchen team is kept very busy!
Most of the time the team are out of sight, beavering away in the kitchen, so we thought it was about time we showed their faces! Here are the people behind the delicious food you enjoy at the Royal York & Faulkner.
Here is the Royal York & Faulkner’s Chef Brigade:
From left to right, back row: Andy Reilly, Pawel Bielawski, Petre Chimingeru
From left to right, front row: Mark Leavers, Gary Bright, Debbie Smith
Mark Leavers is our Head Chef. He joined us in September 2001 having previously worked at another Sidmouth hotel.
Andy Reilly, our longest serving member of staff, started at the Royal York & Faulkner over 25 years ago! Originally from Glasgow, he joined us in March 1991 as a young man, and now calls Sidmouth his home.
Debbie Smith is from Sidmouth and the only lady in our kitchen! She started here in March 1995.
Pawel Bielawski from Poland joined us in April 2007 and now lives in the town with his wife and children.
Gary Bright started in 2009 in the hotel kitchen. He also works in our popular Blinis Café-Bar.
Petre is our apprentice and newest member of staff. He recently appeared on the Romanian equivalent of Masterchef.
Our kitchen team cooks up a varied menu with plenty to choose from, including fresh, locally sourced food.
If you’d like to enjoy the delightful food created by our talented bunch, then book a stay with us. To check availability, call us on Freephone 0800 220714 or click here.
