the big interview
Hospitality gurus join forces on new venture Back in late 2019, the world was a different place. COVID-19 was unheard of in the UK, people could socialise normally and bars, restaurants and hotels were open for business as usual. It seemed, therefore, a perfectly reasonable time to start a business venture, so Hector Ross and
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Ronnie Kimbugwe – two seasoned professionals in the leisure and hospitality industries – did just that. They launched The Signet Collection with the aim of building a chain of boutique hotels that are unique to the location in which they’re based. The first hotel to open its doors was The Mitre in historic Hampton Court – the former home of Henry VIII in Kingston upon Thames. Then the pandemic took hold. “It was good timing, wasn’t it!” jokes Hector. “We set out with the intention of creating memorable experiences and extraordinary boutique hotels in time-honoured places in great locations. We
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wanted to renovate iconic buildings and bring them back to life as venues that offer an exceptional dining experience with top-notch food. “Ronnie and I purchased and completely renovated The Mitre and then everything was thrown into chaos by the pandemic. It was a scary moment but we decided to stay positive and see it as an opportunity. We contacted the builders and carried on with the refurbishment programme while offering takeaway food from a large truck. By making an effort to connect with the community and engage with the locals, we encouraged them to stay loyal to us when lockdown restrictions were lifted.”
