In his new role, the Liverpool-born chef will workacross the fine dining restaurant The Lawns, the brasserie, private dining, bar lounge and banqueting, managing a 21-strong kitchen team.
Known for his modern European cooking style, Worswick was the youngest chef in Scotland to receive a Michelin star while working at the Glenapp Castle Hotel in Ayrshire in 2013.
He has also worked with David Everitt-Mattias at Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham and Simon Hulstone at The Elephant in Torquay.
Race to the star
The hotel and spa hopes the new addition will help it further enhance its fine dining offering and possibly reach Michelin star status after being listed for the first time in the 2015 guide.
Geoff Dale, general manager of Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa said: “It’s Matt’s experience, energy and clarity of vision about The Lawns’ future that make him such an exciting and pivotal addition to the team.
“The Lawns has really earned its reputation as one of the North West’s best fine dining restaurants and we’re very much working towards Michelin standard food. Matt is leading that charge and helping to make Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa a real destination for food lovers.”
Pushing for accolades
Warswick said: “Thornton Hall is something really quite special. It attracts food lovers from across the region on one hand and has a very local and frequent customer base on the other, so it’s important we take all those customers with us as we update the menu and improve the quality of the food further.
“It’s no secret that we’re pushing for more accolades over the next few years and it’s certainly a lifelong ambition to achieve a star here in the North West, but that’s not something we’ll achieve overnight. I’m really committed to delivering culinary excellence and a memorable fine dining experience.
“I’m privileged to be joining such a passionate and experienced team and am keen to build on the hotel’s success locally, regionally and indeed nationally.”
The Lawns restaurant also has three AA Rosettes.