Awarded The Hotelier of the Year in 2003, Outstanding Contribution Catey in 2014 (hotel industry Oscar’s) and Lifetime Achievement by the AA in 2015. Robin is known as an innovative and entrepreneurial hotelier with 40 years’ experience in some of the world’s most famous hotels. Trained with The Savoy group London and Hotel de Crillon in Paris. This was followed by spells at Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda, then Chewton Glen in the New Forest.

In 1994 Robin co founded the hugely influential Hotel du Vin group. Hotel du Vin was at the vanguard of the UK boutique hotel movement. After exactly 10 years, the group was sold for the record £66m.

He was Non Exec Director, then Executive Chairman alongside Nick Jones at Soho House Group for 14 years until in 2008 the group was successfully sold for £105m

Robin is now CEO & Chairman Lime Wood Group Ltd and Home Grown Hotels Ltd; his latest venture The Pig in its short existence has already been much lauded as a mould breaker in the country house sector. Endorsed by winning a 4th Catey. This time for Independent Hotel of the Year 2013. The group is now 5 strong with more in the pipeline.

He is actively involved with the charity Action Against Hunger and is a member of the Board of Governors’ of The Academy of Culinary Arts.

In 2015 he was awarded honorary Doctor of Business by Southampton Solent University.

Robin was honoured in 2016.