Andrew Jamieson - General Manager
Andrew, who is originally from Ayr, Scotland, grew up in the hospitality industry, spending much of his youth at the 16 bedroom hotel owned by his parents in Fintry, just outside Glasgow. The father of one originally had ambitions of becoming a pro-golfer but ventured into the family business in his early 20s and soon secured a position at the former Stakis Hotel chain (sold to Hilton in 2000), where he was one of the youngest ever employees to be fast-tracked into a senior role.
Since then Andrew has enjoyed an illustrious and international career in hospitality management, including eight years at Cromwell Holdings, which built hotels, motorway services and restaurants, eight years as UK Food and Beverages Manager for leading holiday ownership organisation Sunterra and two years overseeing properties in Spain, Portugal, Tenerife and the UK as Director for Petchey Leisure based in The Algarve.
Most recently Andrew served as Senior Manager at the five-star Galgorm Resort and Spa in Northern Ireland, where he earned the title of The Institute of Hospitality’s Food & Beverage Manager of the Year in 2010.
Andrew decided to return to the UK to be closer to his family, allowing him to take up the position of General Manager at the Black Swan Hotel.
Paul Peters - Head Chef
It’s no secret that The Black Swan has been enjoyed its reputation as a place with a warm welcome and fine hospitality for well over 500 years now. What some folk may not have guessed is that the creative force giving seasonal, Yorkshire produce a modern twist is Australian-born Chef, Paul Peters.
Peters joined The Black Swan in March 2009 following a decade of working for some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the UK, including The Lygon Arms (part of the Savoy group), Raffles Brown’s Hotel, Millenium Hotel Knightsbridge, MPW Brasserie and counting John Burton Race as one of his mentors. At swissôtel The Howard, in London Peters was awarded 3 AA rosettes. The previous decade had been spent “down under” in home-town Sydney, by and large, with a 4 year college training and apprenticeship, followed by valuable years perfecting his craft at some of the city’s best restaurants and also in The Victoria Hotel, Hunter Valley.
Peter Rogers - Restaurant Manager
Alison Souter - Tearoom Manager
Alison started at the Black Swan in 1996 as a part time waitress as her children were only two and four at that time. Alison had trained with Barclays Bank but soon realised she wanted a job where she could interact with people on a far more personal level.
Working her way upwards to become Assistant Restaurant Manager, a position she has held for the past five years until November 2007 when she became the new Tearoom Manager and launched the Black Swan's newest venture in December 2007. Alison has a real passion for teas and has become an expert in her field.
Alison Richardson - Head Housekeeper
Alison wouldn’t mind us saying she’s one of the old guard at The Black Swan, having been working at the hotel in one capacity or another for almost 30 years. Starting as a Saturday girl in 1977, she took up a full time post as a chamber maid in 1980, and then moved on to become an an assistant housekeeper. Alison married a local man, Andrew in 1986. She sadly left the hotel in 1987 and was enticed to work in York at the then Crest Hotel as an assistant housekeeper with her sister who was the then head housekeeper. With the arrival of her daughter Holly in 1993, Alison took four years off and then returned to the position of Head Housekeeper at the Black Swan.
Though Alison's association with the hotel is 30 years, she still has a long way to go to catch her mother, Jean, as Jean has been here for over 50 years and is still going strong.
Jayne Potter - Marketing & Events Manager
Jayne has now worked at the Black Swan Hotel for over twelve years and is still only 29! Jayne started work at the Black Swan working weekends and holidays whilst studying for her A levels. She then went to university in Hull to study a four-year course in Human Resource Management at the University of Lincoln.
In 2004 Jayne graduated from university with a BA Hons degree, before returning back to her roots at the Black Swan. Jayne is the Marketing & Events Manager dealing with PR, marketing, and sales. She also looks after all the shooting party bookings.
Jules Simms - Front Office Manager
Nicola Bolden - Wedding & Events Co-ordinator
Nicola has a vast experience in looking after weddings here at the Black Swan. Nicola's personal touch and attention to detail makes dealing with her a pleasure. You're in safe hands with Nicola!!
As well as looking after all the arrangements for weddings at the Black Swan, Nicola also takes care of the meetings, private dinners, and functions.