The new executive chef at Ramsey Park Hotel aims to enhance the hotel’s growing reputation by cooking food that embraces her traditional style of cooking and makes the most of local produce.

Sam Kelly was runner up in the Isle of Man Chef of the Year Awards in 2017.

She has worked in kitchens at Jean Pierre’s Bistro, Ramsey, as sous chef and spent time working as a private chef in France, Italy and Greece.

Upon her return she established Dine du Jour, a private dining company that she still runs alongside managing the kitchen at Ramsey Park.

The expansion of the hotel - to include an extra 30 bedrooms and event space for up to 250 people - will be completed at the beginning of May and Sam has high hopes.

She said: ’Ramsey Park will become more of a destination for weddings and events once the extension has been completed.

’It will be the only hotel in the area able to cater for that many people and we want the food to match the impressive new event space.

’With the help of the head chef and the team we plan to enhance the reputation of the restaurant.

’I am currently reinvigorating all the menus that will always features a lamb dish that we source from a farm that is just three miles away.’

General manager of Ramsey Park Hotel, James O’Neill described Sam’s appointment as a real coup.

He said: ’Sam has fantastic talent, she makes each plate of food look so appealing while maintaining that traditional approach that I think many of the residents of the island will like.

’With Sam on board we will be able to attract even more visitors to the hotel that want to dine with us, creating a top class, must-visit destination for the north of the island.’