Meet the People

Simon Murphy - General Manager

This is Simon’s second stint at the hotel, he previously worked here under the Forte banner some 20 years ago as a very, very young assistant manager. He must have been very young then!

Since leaving the Black Swan, Simon has travelled within the UK working for Forte, Granada, and latterly for Macdonald Hotels in Lincoln, returning as General Manager in September 2002.

Simon loves playing golf, when he gets a spare moment. He married his wife Beverley at the Black Swan Hotel in 1989, and has one son, Elliott who is 15 going on 25. Sadly for Elliott he is the spitting image of Simon.

Andrew Burton - Head Chef

Andrew, a born and bread Yorkshire man is married to Lucy and lives locally. He loves eating out, trying different styles of food and cooking techniques, traveling to other countries (when Simon gives him any time off!) and spending quality time with his beloved dog, Heather.

Andrew started at the Black Swan in August 2007 and set about updating and revitalising the food with instant success gaining two Rosettes after only three months. Andrew has worked in many other fine Yorkshire hotels, latterly at the four red star, three rosette, Swinton Park Hotel near Masham.

Grahem Sanders - Restaurant Manager

Grahem started working at the Black Swan Hotel in August 2005. Before this Grahem was Restaurant Manager at Charlton House Hotel, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, a three red star, three rosette, one Michelin star hotel. Grahem also worked at the Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe near Chippenham, a four red star property, three rosette restaurant, where he was the Assistant Restaurant Manager.

In his spare time Grahem likes rugby, and of course his favourite football team West Ham.

Jayne Palliser - Reception Manager

Jayne has now worked at the Black Swan Hotel for over eight years and is still only 25! 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 Managment 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 currently Reception & Reservations Manager overseeing reception, events, weddings and meetings.

In her spare time she likes to spend time with friends and family who live in nearby Sproxton.

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, the lovely Tom and Katy. Alison had trained with Barclay's Bank but with her outgoing, very outgoing personality, charm and sense of humour she had to be infront of people!

Working her way upwards to become Assistanct 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 can talk the hind leg off a donkey about the different types of teas.

Martin Towse - Head Tearoom Patisserie Chef

Martin has a natural talent for creating the most amazing tasting and eye catching patisserie and homemade chocolates.

"I can say that they are some of the best I have ever tasted in the UK, a pleasure for the eyes, and a wonderful display of skill at its best!" Michel Roux OBE, November 2007

Martin started at the Black Swan in June 2007 to develop new recipes, patisseries, and homemade chocolates for the launch of the tearoom in December 2007.

Simon Rhatigan (owner) and Simon Murphy (General Manager) had the unenviable job of tasting, (constantly) for weeks his new creations. What a job, well somebody had to do it!

Martin laterly was working at the Michelin star, Auberge du Lac, as head pastry chef for the infamous Jean Christoph Nouvelli.

A visit to the Black Swan can not be appreciated without trying one of his patisserie or chocolates, or taking them home with you as others do.

Alison Richardson - Head Housekeeper

Would you believe it that Alison association with the hotel has been here for nearly 30 years! Starting as a Saturday girl in 1977, starting full time as a room maid in 1980, after several years she became an assistant housekeeper. Alison married a local man, Andrew in 1986. She sadly left the hotel in 1987 and was inticed to work in York at the then Crest Hotel as an assistant housekeeper with her sister who was the then head housekeeper. What a pair! With the arrival of her daughter Holly in 1993, Alison took four years off! Simon would never allow it now! In 1997 she rightly returned to the position of Head Housekeeper at the Black Swan.

Alison loves walking her dog Bracken, reading, listening to music, going horseracing and venturing out in her VW camper van. 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.