A Cumbrian chef has been named among the top 50 movers and shakers in the UK hotel industry.
The 2022 Boutique Hotelier Power List, which celebrates the owners, operators and business leaders who have made their mark this year, includes Nina Matsunaga, the co-owner of The Black Bull, Sedbergh.
Nina features in a list of 10 business leaders, alongside the likes of Ross Grieve, managing director of Seaham Hall, Sherene Fuller, general manager of Karma Sanctum in Soho and Garry Baldwin, managing director of New Forest Collection.
The Business Leaders are recognised as being fearless, resilient individuals leading their businesses from the front and building confidence in their team and who are at the cutting edge of a vibrant and diverse, boutique hotel scene.
The Black Bull’s owners Nina and James have a clear vision of the direction in which they want to take their inn with rooms and as a result they have invested in that journey creating 18 individual guest rooms, a thriving restaurant and bar, a seasonal outdoor dining space and bar, and a combined bakery and deli, which came about as a response to the pandemic.
This vision and ability to adapt has stood them in good stead and has meant that they have inspired their team and carried their team with them on their journey. Not content to sit on their laurels, the couple are busy planning to create additional accommodation and dining offers, which will both be revealed in the coming months.
Nina said: ‘’I certainly didn’t expect to be listed in the Boutique Hotelier 2022 Power List, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic.
“It’s a real pat on the back though for all the hard work James and I have put into the Black Bull since opening the doors in 2018. We’ve always tried to go that extra mile and to take our team on that journey with us.
“We are passionate about what we do, and we believe in constantly evolving and developing to ensure that we stay at the forefront of what we do. The sector has faced challenges in recent years, but this recognition is testament to the fact that hard work pays off, especially when you have an equally dedicated team on that journey with you.’’
