The award-winning Montagu Arms Hotel in the heart of the beautiful New Forest has appointed a new general manager.

Andrew Nightingale is a hospitality expert with many years of experience in the industry.

He comes to the Montagu Arms from his role as operations manager at the Kilworth House Hotel & Theatre in Leicestershire, the only hotel in the country to stage West End-style theatre shows.

As deputy general manager of the Old Swan & Minster Mill in Oxfordshire, Nightingale was part of the team when the property was bought by the de Savary group, and helped transform it from a three-star conference venue to a luxury five-star country inn within two years.

He takes over from Sunil Kanjanghat, who has moved on to manage the Montagu Arms’ sister hotel Careys Manor in Brockenhurst after eight very successful years, the last two as general manager.

“I’m very excited about joining the Montagu Arms, which has a great and long heritage,” said Nightingale.

“I love the character of the building and the warmth of the staff, which really helps to create a unique home-from-home atmosphere.

“I have been lucky enough to host the legendary hoteliers Sir Rocco Forte and Alex Polizzi, who are both amazing entrepreneurs and have done so much to promote the industry; I am keen to help passionate members of my team develop into great hoteliers.”

The Montagu Arms country house hotel is in the beautiful, historic village of Beaulieu at the heart of the New Forest.

Set in beautiful gardens inspired by Gertrude Jekyll, the hotel has 22 en-suite bedrooms, some with four-poster beds and all designed to make guests feel completely at home.

The multi-award-winning Terrace Restaurant has three AA Rosettes and is run by Matthew Tomkinson, one of only 34 Roux Scholars in the world.

Guests can enjoy Nightingale‘s favourite honey roast breast of free range duck at the Terrace, or nip around the corner to the more information Monty’s Inn and tuck into one of their famous beef burgers.