A 25-YEAR-OLD chef, who has worked in award-winning kitchens all over the world, has been appointed as Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa's new executive chef.

Staffordshire born Niall Keating will join the five-red-AA-star hotel on Thursday, December 1 to oversee both the Dining Room and Le Mazot brasserie after Martin Burge, who worked at the hotel for 13 years, left the establishment last week to look for new challenges.

The young chef, who started out as a pot washer aged only 15 at the Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton, worked his way up from a variety of positions at the Bath Priory Hotel, to the bright lights of San Francisco and Copenhagen at the three-Michelin-star Benu and one-Micheline star restaurant Kong Hans Kaelder.

Sue Williams, who joined Whatley Manor as general manager in September, knows Mr Keating from his time at the Bath Priory Hotel and said she was delighted that the 25-year-old would be joining her team.

"We are delighted that Niall has chosen Whatley Manor for his return to the UK," she said. "When I first met him at the Bath Priory, his talent was immediately evident, and I have really enjoyed watching his career gather momentum."

Mr Keating has always dreamed about returning to the UK to run a prestigious kitchen and he is looking forward to introducing his own menus after the festive season from January 14, 2017.

He said: "I would like to thank Christian and Sue for this fantastic opportunity. It is an exciting next step for me, and I look forward to evolving the cuisine at Whatley Manor."