Robin Hutson

Robin Hutson
OBE
Born1957 (age 66–67)[1]
London, England
OccupationHotelier
Known forHotel du Vin, Lime Wood, Soho House, The Pig
TitleCEO & Chairman of Home Grown Hotels Ltd and LimeWood Group Ltd
SpouseJudy Hutson
Children2 sons

Robin Hutson OBE (born 1957) is a British hotelier, listed by The Caterer in 2019 as the UK's second most powerful hotelier.[2]

Early life

When he was 14, his parents decided that he should attend a grammar school in Surrey, rather than London.[3] He did not do well at school and left without attending sixth form. He went on to study hotel and catering operations at Brooklands College in Weybridge,[3] earning an OND.[4]

Career

Hutson started his career as a management trainee with The Savoy Hotel Company, starting at Claridge's, as a waiter and then The Berkeley.[4] He then moved to the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, and after a spell at Elbow Beach in Bermuda was appointed general manager of Chewton Glen at 28 years old.[5]

In 1994, Hutson co-founded the Hotel du Vin chain with Gerard Basset.[2] In 2004, they sold the company for £66 million.[2] He was chairman of the Soho House Group until 2009.

Since 2009, Hutson has worked closely with chemicals billionaire Jim Ratcliffe on several projects, and Ratcliffe spent £40 million on the Lime Wood hotel in Hampshire, which Hutson runs.[6] They met because their children were at school together.[6] Home Grown Hotels is an equal shares partnership between Hutson, his management team and Ratcliffe.[6]

Hutson is CEO and chairman of Lime Wood Group and of Home Grown Hotels.[7]

He is the winner of numerous industry awards including Hotelier of the Year 2003,[8] two industry Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2016 and 2020.[9] He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business from Solent University.[10] He is on the Board of Governors for The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts [11] and an active supporter of Action Against Hunger.[12] He is also a regular contributor to The Caterer magazine and campaigner for greater representation in Government for the hospitality sector.[13]

Hutson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to the hospitality industry and philanthropy.[14]

Personal life

Hutson is married to Judy,[3] a former occupational therapist,[4] they have two sons, and live in Winchester, Hampshire.[4]

He enjoys fishing and wine and has completed many cross-continental motorcycle trips.[6][15]

References

  1. ^ Grainger, Lisa (13 July 2023). "Tools of the trade: Robin Hutson" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  2. ^ a b c Bearne, Suzanne (18 March 2019). "Exam failure who became a multi-millionaire hotelier". BBC News. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Pullman, Interviews by Laura (22 July 2018). "Relative Values: Robin Hutson and his wife, Judy, the owners of the Pig hotel chain". Retrieved 18 March 2019 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  4. ^ a b c d Redwood, Fred (13 February 2013). "Interiors: the splendour of a revamped Victorian home". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  5. ^ Burn-Callander, Rebecca (29 October 2016). "Robin Hutson, founder of Pig Hotel chain: 'I have a love-hate relationship with hotels'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  6. ^ a b c d "Interview: Robin Hutson - the hotelier who escaped back to the country". The Evening Standard. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Top 100 Robin Hutson Lime Wood and Home Grown..." The Caterer. 19 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Hotelier of the Year 2003 Robin Hutson". The Caterer. 4 March 2004.
  9. ^ "Cateys 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Robin..." The Caterer. 22 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Hampshire hotelier awarded honorary degree | Solent University". www.solent.ac.uk.
  11. ^ https://www.royalacademyofculinaryarts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Who-We-Are-Board-of-Governors.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  12. ^ "Fine Wine and Art Dinner - Get involved". Action Against Hunger.
  13. ^ "Home | Seat at the Table - Hospitality needs your support". Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  14. ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N13.
  15. ^ "World's End – To The End Of The World". www.worlds-end.bike. Retrieved 22 March 2019.


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