Andrew Vales announced as general manager for Marco Pierre White’s new venues in Orwell Road, Felixstowe

The general manager of a celebrity chef’s new hotel, bar and restaurant has been appointed ahead of its opening this summer.

Andrew Vales will handle the day-to-day running of Marco Pierre White’s new three-in-one venue in Felixstowe.

News broke in February that the acclaimed chef’s company would be transforming The Brook Hotel, in Orwell Road, into a boutique-style hotel named Hotel Coco, which would also contain a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill plus a pub called The Queen’s Head.

The hunt for staff began in March.

Originally from London and with a Spanish family, Andrew has a wealth of experience in the hospitality sector, including with big names such as Fortnum and Mason and Los Monteros Five-Star GL.

Andrew said the chance to run a restaurant attached to a famous chef like Marco Pierre White was an opportunity he could not turn down.

“When I saw the plans for what will be Hotel Coco I was instantly excited by what it will eventually be like,” he said.

“It’s also very exciting to be the first venue to open a pub under his name.”

Andrew looked forward to welcoming guests to the venue.

In the mean time, the team were still on the look out for staff, including receptionists, waiters, a night porter and housekeepers, Andrew said.

He felt work on site was coming together at pace and would ‘completely capture’ Mr Pierre White’s ethos of creating a venue where friends and family can enjoy food and drinks in a relaxed, comfortable and unpretentious setting.

An opening date has yet to be confirmed.

Andrew added: “I love cooking and plan to make Marco’s Steakhouse the go-to restaurant in the area and can’t wait to get open.”