Andrew Swann is the new executive chef at the Castle at Taunton

Andrew Swann is returning to the Castle at Taunton as executive chef

Andrew Swann originally worked at the Castle at Taunton back in 2000 as a commis chef when he was just 17. 

The classically-trained chef moved to Somerset when he was 15, where he learned the virtues of seasonal focused, locally-sourced cookery.

Since his first spell at the Castle in Taunton, he has worked at a number of the UK's top hotels and restaurants such as Michelin-starred Zafferano and L'Escargot, as well as for the Soho House Group, Rök Smokehouse, and The Savoy.

'It feels great to be back home'

Before his return, he worked most recently as head chef at Luciano's by Luciano Pierre White, (Marco Pierre White's son) in Dorchester.

On his new appointment, Andrew said: "It feels so great to be back home. I fell in love with cooking when I first started my career here, and to be able to come back so many years later to continue that journey is really special for me."

"Given the hotel’s history, I know I have some big shoes to fill but that’s what gets me up in the mornings."

The Castle at Taunton is a family-owned hotel in the heart of Somerset, which has been in the Chapman family for 72 years. Its restaurant has been run by a number of high profile chefs over the years, including Chris Oakes, who led the team that won them a Michelin star for the hotel back in 1984; Gary Rhodes; Richard Guest; Liam Finnegan, and Phil Vickery. 

Before Andrew's appointment, the kitchen underwent a £150,000 refurbishment so as to improve the guest experience, as well as making the operation more sustainable and energy-efficient.