JAMES McConnell has been promoted to general manager at The Barn Brasserie restaurant in Great Tey.Mr McConnell, of Colchester, has been restaurant manager at the award-winning restaurant for the past year and has worked in the catering and hospitality industry since leaving school.

JAMES McConnell has been promoted to general manager at The Barn Brasserie restaurant in Great Tey.

Mr McConnell, of Colchester, has been restaurant manager at the award-winning restaurant for the past year and has worked in the catering and hospitality industry since leaving school.

“I've worked in a number of high-profile bars and a la carte restaurants in the Essex and Suffolk area. I worked in a bar and served my first drink on my 18th birthday, so you could say the industry is in my blood,” he said.

“I feel very privileged to be appointed general manager of such a prestigious venue as The Barn Brasserie and my challenge is to build on the restaurant's excellent reputation and take it on to even higher levels.”