About us
The Old Bridge was owned by John and Julia Hoskins from 1994 until August 2023 when it was sold to Chestnut Hospitality – a group of East Anglian inns and pubs.
If you are interested in working at the Old Bridge, please email James McFarlane, our General Manager. We are always looking to add bright and enthusiastic people to our team so please get in touch. We can invariably be flexible about hours of work, wages are competitive, tips are good and (most of all) the working atmosphere is happy and supportive!
Meet the team
James McFarlane
General Manager
James is Huntingdon born and bred but with a Geordie dad he's an avid Newcastle United fan. He trained at the Old Bridge, and then managed the Three Horseshoes at Madingley for a couple of years when it was owned by John & Julia. He returned to TOB as Assistant Manager, left to try Sales elsewhere and returned once again to be our ever-dynamic Hotel Manager. He now manages all areas of the business as GM!
Lewis Pestell
Assistant General Manager
Lewis meandered around the world for 7 years, working in bars to support himself, before landing firmly at The OB. He ran our bar, with great success, before taking on the role of Service Manager for our Front of House team. He's now taken an even bigger role, supporting James and the whole hotel as AGM. He remains obsessed with drinks of all styles!
Sarah Whitelock
Sales Manager
Sarah was for many years our Business Centre Manager and before that a key member of the Reception team. In 2021 she took over the role of Sales Manager. Sarah is one of the most positive and pro-active people any of us have ever met!
Pramod Jadhav,
Head Chef
Pramod has been Head Chef since 2019, having worked for us for several years as Sous Chef. Originally from India, near Mumbai, Pramod (nicknamed Rambo amongst the team) has developed an amazing repertoire of British and international dishes. But of course he is renowned for his incredible curries.
Jake Smith
Wine Shop Manager
Jake was a Restaurant Manager at the Old Bridge restaurant for several years before running other pubs locally and in London. A brief stint in project management made him realise that wine was a better idea and he re-joined us in 2022. As a Tottenham fan, he is often a bit down, so probably best to discuss food and booze, not football.
Alison Morrison
Lounge Manager
Covid was a nightmare but did have its upsides in the end - and a key one for us was the arrival of Ali, made redundant by BA after 25 years. She is now the endlessly patient, ever-welcoming heart of our team; when she's not out walking the dog from one local pub to another.
Emily Bevens
Restaurant Manager
How we get such talented people like Emily joining us is a (wonderful) mystery. She took a degree in photography and was using that skill-set commercially when she decided that hospitality was her true calling (having worked at the Almonry Tea Rooms in Ely Cathedral as a student). She loves Chianti and Champagne - normally in the reverse order - particularly when on holiday in Cornwall.
Cyril Bray
Functions Manager
Cyril has been with us (off and on!) for many years. He has managed the restaurant in the past but is now the host of all our functions, whether a small private dinner or a large wedding. He adds a classic sense of French hospitality to Huntingdon.
Liz Pendered
Liz Pendered runs the shop on most weekday mornings, as well as overseeing much general Huntsbridge admin. Liz and husband Andrew are big claret fans, summer holidays often spent in the south west of France. However she has been known to drink other red wine when it's really excellent...
Peter Foran
Peter Foran joined the team in January 2012, working in the shop several sessions a week. After 30 years with the RAF, wine seems like a much more civilised occupation, especially for someone who renovated a house in southern Burgundy. Peter also oversees our (many) maintenance issues.
