General manager and head chef leave London's Sanctum hotel

The general manager and head chef of Mark Fuller’s £10m boutique hotel Sanctum Soho have left the property just months after its opening.

General manager Abbas Alhajj left the 30-bedroom property, which opened on April 23 this year, two months ago, followed by head chef Gavin Austin who left in mid-July.

But Fuller said not to “read anything” into the moves, saying Alhajj was only ever intended to open the hotel and train revenue and restaurant manager Laura-Anne Cawston to step into his shoes after his departure.

He added that Austin had left after a gruelling three-hour each way commute had become too much for him.

He said: “Abbas was only ever meant to be at the hotel for three months and still works for Concept Venues. He’s currently working on launching the Embassy Club in Dubai.

“As for Gavin he was really sad to go but he lived too far away and it just became too much for him.”

Austin’s number two Daz Roach has now taken over the role of head chef at the property’s restaurant No.20.

Sanctum Soho is the second hotel from Concept Venues, Fuller’s company set up with chef Garry Hollihead.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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