Ronnie Kimbugwe has been appointed as Culinary & Operations Director at The Mitre, Hampton Court

Ronnie Kimbugwe, whose background includes over six years with the Gordon Ramsay group at Claridges, joins the new hotel and hospitality brand from the Bel and Dragon Country Inns, where he created a highly successful group of gastropubs across the South of England. Ronnie will oversee the entire culinary vision at The Mitre, including two restaurants, Coppernose and 1665, the Orangery, private dining, wine cellars, suites and in-room dining.

In his new role with The Signet Collection, Ronnie will create the menus throughout the hotel, in keeping with the relaxed modern British comfort cooking style for which he is renowned. Seasonal, immersive, and non-prescriptive, Ronnie's signature take on dishes will ensure the food and beverage offerings at The Mitre, Hampton Court are nothing less than exceptional.

As a young child, Ronnie's earliest food memory is of cooking crépes and trying to flip them, whilst standing on a chair next to his grandma in Uganda. His curiosity about food was further ignited during his teens growing up in Devon where he realised the enjoyment derived from entertaining people through food and drink, and as a way of giving something back. When he's not in the kitchen, Ronnie can be found hosting events that entertain and inspire locals and guests alike, with Charity Bake Offs, Children's cooking activities & Supper Clubs always drawing crowds. He is passionate about team culture, training young chefs and giving back to the local community via root to table, farm to fork.