Robin Hutson - OBE MI

Chairman

Lime Wood Group Limited & Home Grown Hotels

Trained with The Savoy Group, London, starting as an 18 year old commis waiter at Claridge’s in 1975, then Stones Chop House, The Berkeley and Hotel de Crillon, Paris. Ultimately becoming Front Office Manager at The Berkeley. Next came two years as Operations Manager - Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda. Tempted back to the UK in 1986 with the offer of his first General Management role at the young age of 29 at Chewton Glen Hotel, an 8-year stint, eventually becoming Managing Director. In 1994, co - founded the hugely influential Hotel du Vin with the late Gerard Basset. Hotel du Vin is recognised as having been at the vanguard of the UK boutique hotel scene. Eventually building Hotel du Vin to a group of 7 hotels, which they successfully sold in 2004. Between 1995 and 2008 Robin was additionally a director and eventually Chairman of Soho House Group assisting Nick Jones shape the ambitious expansion into Europe and the US. During this period, he was also a non-Executive director of Hotel Crillon le Brave in Provence, France. Robin founded and is Chairman of the much-applauded Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest and was also founder of one of Britain’s best loved collection of country hotels… The Pig. There are now 8 Pig hotels across southern England with more in the pipeline. Notwithstanding the accolades, when reflecting upon his career, Robin says he is most proud of assisting the development of the next generation of passionate hotel professionals. His prodigies that are scattered across the globe and his commitment to the innovative in-house training schemes are testaments to this.