The Queensberry Hotel appoints new General Manager

The Queensberry Hotel, Bath, is delighted to announce the appointment of Oliver Harris as its new Hotel Manager. Bringing with him a host of leadership experience in luxury and boutique hospitality, Oliver’s appointment marks a new chapter for the recently awarded Michelin Key hotel and its Michelin Star and 4 AA Rosette awarded restaurant, The Olive Tree.

Oliver’s impressive CV demonstrates a range of high-level hospitality experience at top end establishments. A graduate of The Edge Hotel School in 2016, Oliver launched his career with the Exclusive Collection, a family-run hotel group, before advancing to the role of Food and Beverage Manager at Fanhams Hall Hotel. His dynamic leadership and passion for service excellence were further honed during his tenure at the five-red-star and two Michelin Key awarded establishment, Whatley Manor Hotel, where he rapidly rose through the ranks to become Operations Manager in a swift two and a half years.

Image: Oliver Harris

Notable achievements during his time at Whatley Manor include the design and introduction of a Graduate Programme and significant contributions towards the hotel’s sustainability efforts, culminating in Earthcheck Silver Accreditation. He also played a vital role in maintaining the hotel’s exceptional standards and contributed to the success of its two Michelin Keys, awarded in 2024.

To broaden his commercial and volume operations expertise, Oliver transitioned to Tortworth Court Hotel, part of the De Vere brand, where he managed a significantly larger property of 201 rooms. However, his passion for more bespoke and boutique propositions has now led him to multi-award-winning, family-owned The Queensberry Hotel, where he is eager to take the helm at this individualistic Georgian townhouse hotel.

Oliver has received many accolades throughout his career, including being named a finalist for GM of the Future at the Independent Hotel Show in 2022 and winning the Acorn Award for being one of the top 30 under 30 in hospitality in 2023. He is also an alumni of the Master Innholders Aspiring Leaders Diploma (Innholder Graduate) and serves as a Hospitality Action Ambassador, having helped raise over £120,000 through the Beaufort Polo Day fundraiser in the past two years. His leadership also extends to his role as Vice Chairman of the Innholder Graduates Alumni Committee, a position he will take over as Chair in 2026.

The Queensberry Hotel, with its acclaimed, Michelin Star restaurant led by Chris Cleghorn at The Olive Tree nestling below, is the lovingly conceived brainchild of Laurence and Helen Beere, who chose Bath as their home and as the base for their special creation. As a result, they have lavished their combined 50 years of experience at the pinnacle of the hotel industry, a sense of flair and a meticulous attention to detail to bring alive this undeniably quirky property.

Image: The Queensberry Hotel 

The Olive Tree Restaurant was recently awarded 4 Rosettes at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards 2024. The 4 AA Rosette status is an upgrade from an already prestigious 3 Rosettes to 4 Rosettes for The Olive Tree Restaurant, set within Bath’s multi-award-winning Queensberry Hotel. The Olive Tree continues to be the city’s only Michelin starred establishment and with this year’s award from the AA, The Olive Tree becomes the only restaurant in the whole of Somerset to carry this 4 AA Rosettes rare accolade.

Image: The Olive Tree Restaurant

Oliver Harris said of his new role, “I am thrilled to join the team at The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant. Anyone who has been here will recognise how very special this property, and its proposition, are. Hotels such as The Queensberry are few and far between, combining distinctive character, attention to detail and impeccable service in a beautiful historic, yet purposefully quirky, setting. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to work under, and been led, coached and developed by industry titans such as Sue Williams and Danny Pecorelli. Now I look forward to adding Laurence and Helen Beere to this list.”

Laurence and Helen, owners of The Queensberry, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Oliver Harris to The Queensberry team. He brings an impeccable pedigree and training background from some great establishments. His experience, passion for hospitality, and commitment to the development of the next generation of hoteliers make him the perfect fit for us."

Image: Laurence & Helen Beere, Owners of The Queensberry Hotel