A TOP new chef has been appointed at The Raithwaite Hall Country Retreat, in Sandsend, near Whitby.

Darren Iddon will be the executive chef of the luxury country hotel ahead of the opening in October of its £30 million revamp by developer The Skelwith Group, of York.

Most recently Darren was at the Capella Singapore, where he organised, managed and delivered the culinary operations for the 112-room resort, which included two fine dining restaurants, a bar and in-room dining.

Before that, he was the executive sous chef at the West Paces operated hotel, Lough Eske Castle in Donegal, Ireland, from 2007 to 2010, which was voted the world’s top luxury country hotel at the 2010 World Luxury Hotel Awards.

Darren said: “I can’t wait to get stuck in and start to build the kitchen team and begin developing the opening menu.”

The hotel will be the first UK hotel to be operated by the West Paces Hotel Group.

West Paces operates and manages 17 hotels and resorts around the world.