A Boyle man is the manager of the new Hilton London Bankside Hotel which is due to open later this month.
James Clarke from St. Patrick Street, where his family operate a thriving bar and restaurant business, was previously director of operations at Hilton Park Lane in London.
The design-inspired Hilton London Bankside, on track to open this month has revealed the line-up of its top management team, who will be responsible for the launch of the hotel. Located in London’s vibrant Bankside the hotel is built and managed by the Splendid Hospitality Group.
James Clarke is the hotels General Manager. James brings with him over 20 years of experience within the hospitality industry and joins from the London Hilton on Park Lane where he was Director of Operations.
“I am thrilled to be playing a pivotal role in opening the Hilton London Bankside. The construction phase is always interesting but I can’t wait to be checking in our first guests in the coming weeks.” James Clarke, General Manager, Hilton London Bankside.
Stuart Bailey, CEO of Splendid Hospitality Group says: “We are delighted to have James on board to manage Hilton London Bankside which is an exciting new addition to our portfolio. With 292 stylishly decorated rooms, it will be one of the largest hotels within the Splendid Hospitality Group. James also brings with him a good understanding of the Hilton ethos.”
Originally from Boyle in County Roscommon in the west of Ireland, where he worked at his family business James Clarke Bar and Restaurant (established in 1889) James comes to London’s Bankside by way of global locations including Alabama, California and the Bahamas.
James studied in both the UK and USA and has a wealth of impressive hospitality experience from around the world. His career in the US began at the Grand Hotel Marriot Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. James then moved to the West Coast to the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa, California for four years. An exciting offer lead James to work at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas for a year to assist in opening the hotel. Once this project was completed, James relocated Boca Raton, Florida to work in Boca West Country Club as a Food & Beverage manager. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York then came calling where James spent five wonderful years in Food & Beverage working from stewarding to being the General Manager of the famous Bull & Bear Steakhouse and finally as the Director of Room Service. James has also worked for Martineau Bay Resort & Spa, Vieques Island and the El Conquistador Resort & Spa in Puerto Rico, Hilton New York, Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel and London Hilton on Park Lane.
Always striving for the best throughout his career, James has been recognised with two Cateys while at the Grosvenor House Hotel; the UK Conference and Banqueting Department of the Year 2009 and Food & Beverage Manager of the Year in 2010.
More recently James was acknowledged for his work at Hilton scooping both Hotel of the Year Award and Director of Operations of the Year in 2013. Last year he was awarded a scholarship by the Master Innholders to complete a General Manager Programme at Cornell University in the USA.
When not running the hotel James can be found tucked away in one of the City’s many museums or reading about history. He is a passionate foodie and enjoys sampling the latest restaurants and spotting the latest gastronomic trends. James loves to burn off any remaining energy with a good game of rugby.
The Hilton London Bankside hotel, located close to the Shard, Tate Modern and Borough Market is in the heart of one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. The hotel’s sumptuous Ballroom will have all the very latest high tech facilities and will be one of the largest venues in London hosting up to 750 guests. Hilton London Bankside will also offer 11 flexible meeting spaces perfect for awards dinners, conferences, exhibitions, weddings and much more.
Featuring a stunning industrial design, Hilton London Bankside offers 292 modern guest rooms, including 25 bespoke Suites and one beautiful Penthouse apartment with private terrace as well as an Executive Lounge, 11 flexible meeting rooms and leisure facilities including a treatment room and indoor swimming pool. Executive Chef Paul Bates, formerly of The Beaumont and Intercontinental Park Lane, is at the helm of the food and beverage outlets, OXBO Bankside restaurant and The Distillery bar.
The hotel also features Bankside’s largest and most exquisite Ballroom accommodating up to 700 guests theatre style or 500 in a banquet setting. With a private entrance, a 6-metre high ceiling, dramatic chandeliers, balcony and sweeping marble staircase leading to the Bankside Ballroom, this is a spectacular venue for any grand celebration, fashion show, awards ceremony or corporate event.
Hilton London Bankside offers the perfect base for exploring the city, just steps away from the Tate Modern and the ideal destination for business and leisure travellers as well as London locals seeking a new destination bar and restaurant, serving locally inspired cuisine.
Hilton London Bankside
2-8 Great Suffolk Street
London
SE1 0UG
Tel: 020 3667 5600
(Pic hospitalityandcateringnews.com)
