Bournemouth University hospitality graduate Andrew Foulkes General Manager of the Abbey Hotel in Bath, wins the Manager of the Year award at this year’s Cateys.
At a spectacularly glamorous awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London, General Manager of the Abbey Hotel in Bath, Andrew Foulkes, won the Manager of the Year award at this year’s Cateys. Casting a spotlight on the industry’s highest flyers, strongest performers and hottest brands, the Cateys are the awards everyone would love to win, which is why they’re often referred to as the hospitality industry’s Oscars night.
Andrew was in fine company, with the likes of Tom Kerridge winning the award for best chef, and Nathan Outlaw taking home the Restaurateur of the Year – Independent award. “Andrew is people focused, committed to developing and mentoring future talent, incredibly forward thinking and continually stretches the boundaries of creativity, and then delivers it on a daily basis,” says the Abbey Hotel’s owner Ian Taylor. “We all had our fingers firmly crossed and were thrilled and so proud to see him win such a prestigious award.” Andrew Foulkes was appointed General Manager at the Abbey Hotel in September 2014.
Previously General Manager at The Bath Priory and Gidleigh Park in Devon, Andrew has established himself as a brilliant leader who brings an infectious enthusiasm to the Abbey Hotel. Having started his career in the kitchen – working under Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck, and later with Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – Andrew knows hotels inside out and is a true master of hospitality. He’s big on building local community networks and working with local charities and pushing himself both professionally and personally is at the heart of everything he does. “I’m completely elated to win and so overwhelmed by all the messages of support, from people I’ve worked with throughout my career,” Andrew says, “it means so much to me and my family, both at home and at the hotel. It’s people who make the industry and I just want to make a significant contribution.”