Meet the Epicurean team

CEO

Matt Parry-Hann

Email: matt@epicurean.club

Matt is hugely passionate about the British countryside, its produce and people, firmly believing that our industry's strength is in its community; that by bringing everyone together we will create truly sustainable tourism in the British countryside for everyone's benefit.

A lover of food, wine, and being out and about, he spends his weekends exploring the British countryside with his dog Mocca (who you will have seen making appearances across our social channels, usually by a pub fire!), or by bike.

Matt has worked with the hospitality sector in various forms over the past decade. Before taking on the role as CEO of the Epicurean Club in 2019, Matt worked as part of the senior management team at Cirrus Inns for 5 years, growing the Cirrus group to 26 sites. Previous to that he was a corporate lawyer, working with businesses such as Diageo, Gleneagles Hotel, Admiral Taverns, Las Iguanas and Be at One, as well as for private equity investors in the hospitality and leisure sector.

 

Marketing

Alice Gabriel

Email: alice@epicurean.club

After graduating from the University of Bristol and 3-months exploring the globe, Alice joined us as an intern before looking after all things marketing at the Epicurean Club. As a keen traveller herself, and a huge lover of the great outdoors, Alice enjoys expressing her passion for adventure daily with our Friends through her marketing campaigns, as well as building relationships with Partner Brands. When not working, you'll find Alice by the coast, up a hill, or in the pub with a G&T in hand.

 

Sales

Tom Benfield

Email: tom@epicurean.club

Starting out his early career in mining laboratories, Tom later went on to gain several years' experience working in Property. As a proud Cornishman with a true passion for all things outdoors, you will find him spending his weekends out walking in the countryside, on the water fishing, or exploring further afield on his motorbike.

His perfect pub experience would be discovering a new hidden gem at the end of a long autumnal hike, muddy wellies off, sat by a roaring fire in good company, while tasting some local ales. A goal of Tom's is to walk the 630 mile South West Coastal path, in stages of course.

 

Customer Service

Kezia Miller

Email: kezia@epicurean.club

After studying at University and completing a trip around the world, Kezia decided to put her psychology degree to the side to pursue her passion of working in a customer facing role in the busy events industry. Following this, Kezia joined The Epicurean Club team in Autumn 2020, to take on the Reservations Manager role within the business.

She enjoys speaking with our Friends daily, organising itineraries, helping with enquiries and encouraging guests to make the most of the British Countryside.

Aside from work, Kezia considers herself an adrenaline junkie and loves the great outdoors. Hertfordshire born and bred, Kezia's ideal Sunday is a long walk with her Goldendoodle, followed by a roast dinner and a red wine in her local village pub.

 

Inn Curator

David Hancock

Email: david@epicurean.club

A true fount of all pub knowledge, David's 25 years previous includes past Editor of Sawday's Pubs & Inns Guide, AA Room at the Inn and Egon Ronay's Pubs & Inns Guide. Well-known and respected across the industry not only for his love and detailed knowledge of pubs, food, drink and great walks but also for his talent as a writer, inspector and Pub Guide editor.

David also contributes to the Good Food Guide, the Publican's Morning Advertiser as a writer and awards judge (Publican Awards), and has written pub-related articles for the Sunday Times, the Independent and Country Life Magazine. When not in the pub or at his desk writing about pubs, David tries to find time to enjoy walking and cycling, but hasn't done so for the past year…!