Southwold-based brewer, distiller and hotelier Adnams has appointed Lyndon Barrett-Scott as general manager of The Swan Hotel in Southwold.

The hotel is set to re-open on October 13 following a £6m investment.

Lyndon brings a wealth of experience having supported the launch of a number of high-end establishments including, the Covent Garden Hotel, Seaham Hall Hotel in Durham and Manchester’s King Street Townhouse. He was also part of the team at Cotswold House, Chipping Camden, which won two top industry awards in 2005.

He and his team are putting guest experience centre-stage to ensure visitors enjoy a memorable stay. There will be a butler service to greet every guest, provide room service, offer activity recommendations and also act as a personal concierge.

The décor and room finishes at the 35-room hotel, by interior designers Project Orange, have been designed to combine modern luxury with the history of Southwold, Adnams and the hotel building.

“The Swan is a fascinating building with a colourful history and has been an important focal point in Southwold for hundreds of years,” said Lyndon.

“It’s in a wonderful location at the heart of town and has all the right ingredients for a world-class hotel. It’s great to have the opportunity to open a hotel where it is possible to provide the very best experience for guests. The fact that The Swan has such close links with brewing and distilling is also exciting.”

Marketing director Emma Hibbert said: “We are really excited to have Lyndon at the helm of this launch as he brings great experience in managing successful hotels across the world and his dedication to fantastic customer service is second to none.

“This is a once in a generation project for Adnams in terms of both scale and ambition and Lyndon’s expertise will be a real asset.

“While brewery and distillery tours have become hugely popular activities, The Swan’s connection with Adnams will push the boundaries of gastronomic tourism further. Not only will The Swan appeal to Adnams fans, beer aficionados and gin lovers but also to those looking to escape and enjoy a luxury experience and amazing food and drink.”

•Suffolk and Cambridgeshire-based DAF Trucks family-owned dealership Chassis Cab has presented a loyalty award to one of its technicians.

Scott Dixey, 25, of Bury St Edmunds, was presented a cheque for £4,500 after he completed his apprenticeship and seven years of service with the company.

Scott attended County Upper School and joined the firm aged 18. He is a fully qualified paint and body technician, having completed a three year paint and panel beating course at Colchester Institute.

The company has taken on a total of six new apprentices this year making a group total of 18 across the four separate locations at Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Cambridge and Isleham.

•Robin Coe has fitted his last pane of glass for Kent Blaxill in Colchester after 35 years with the glass and building supplies company based in Layer Road.

Robin, 65, was presented with gifts by colleagues and management, and was thanked for his services by managing director Simon Blaxill.

He started out in secondary double glazing and eventually becoming glass warehouse manager.

Technical manager glass Adam Smith said: “Robin is a very affable person who was very considerate in helping others. He was also famous for having only five days off sick in his entire career with Kent Blaxill. Latterly he had bought a Morris Minor which he drove in to work, as it was the car he first owned.”

•A solicitor with a strong track record for resolving disputes has joined Kerseys Solicitors as an associate.

Kate Barnes, who has successfully litigated in a range of courts - from small claims to the Court of Appeal - has started work in the dispute resolution team at the firm, which is based in Ipswich and Colchester.

Kate, who has been assisting clients in North Essex and Suffolk for 15 years, said: “This is an exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship at Kerseys.”

She started studying law at the age of 31, having previously studied chemical engineering at university. She completed an Open University degree in English and arts while working full-time in local government.

She studied for two years full-time at Nottingham Law School and completed the Legal Practice Course.

“I was apprehensive about going back into full time education later in life - but it’s never too late to make a change if you feel passionately about it,” she said.

“I believe it helps to have varied experience too, which I can then apply to my current role. My work does not just involve understanding the law, but people and a range of situations.

“Disputes can have an emotional impact, which should be taken into account, along with the practical or financial aspect.”

Kate, who is a committee member of Suffolk and North Essex Law Society, has previously been a partner and director at an established commercial law firm in the region.

She represents corporate and private clients - supporting them in a range of disputes, such as commercial and contract, property, professional negligence, debt recovery and wills and inheritance.

Managing partner Anthony Wooding said: “We are delighted to have someone with Kate’s drive and expertise join the firm. She is a real asset to Kerseys and has already impressed with her commitment to her clients.”

•The Ipswich office of financial and business advisers Grant Thornton has welcomed a highly experienced corporate tax expert.

Robin Shore has more than 40 years’ experience, having begun his career with HM Revenue & Customs where he was a principal inspector of taxes for 15 years.

In 1990, he moved to the Ipswich office of another national business advisory firm where he headed the tax practice for eight years. He went on to join a regional firm, again based in Ipswich, where he primarily worked on complex tax cases for larger owner managed businesses.

In his new role as corporate tax senior manager, he will use his considerable knowledge and experience to support dynamic businesses across the region, working closely with other experts in the firm’s tax team to offer specialist advice and tax planning guidance.

Robin said: “I am delighted to become part of this strong, team based offering, which is quite different from many firms. Over the coming months I hope to use my experience and local knowledge to further develop the growing team and the range of tax services provided to clients across East Anglia.”

Rob Thomson, tax director at the firm’s Ipswich office, said: “Robin’s extensive experience and valuable insights gained through a career spanning time at HM Revenue & Customs and working directly with local businesses, will undoubtedly provide a further boost to our expanding Tax offering.

“With Robin now on board, we will continue to invest in our expert team which offers an unrivalled service to support private clients and help growth focused businesses achieve their potential.”

•Hotel group pentahotels has appointed Serhan Ilker as general manager of pentahotel Ipswich.

Serhan joins the group as a highly experienced manager, having taken the leading role at big brand hotels in the UK, Turkey and Ireland.

Vice president of operations Andrew Munt welcomed Serhan to the team.

“Serhan is a highly experienced manager who likes to challenge the status quo and support innovation in hospitality; his track record fits right into our brand philiosphy,” he said.