Lee Bye Appointed Director as Agellus goes for growth

lee bye

lee bye

Executive Chef 22nd July 2022
lee bye

lee bye

Executive Chef

Lee Bye Appointed Director as Agellus goes for growth

Agellus today confirmed that chef patron Lee Bye has joined the board of directors of the family-owned
hospitality business. 


Bye’s appointment comes as Agellus prepares to open two new properties – Millers House, Tuddenham, and Quay House, Ely – to further strengthen its existing East Anglian portfolio which includes countryside hotel Tuddenham Mill near Newmarket, and coastal pubs The Lifeboat Inn and The Chequers Inn, Thornham, North Norfolk. 

Bye said: “I am delighted to be joining the board of the Agellus business. I feel I have a lot to offer at this level, and I am looking forward to driving the business forward in the years to come, and growing our team of brilliant people. 

Bye added: “The industry I love is going through the most challenging times it has ever known, but there is a confidence and ambitious forward momentum within Agellus’’. 

Agellus bought Millers House and Quay House in 2021. Quay House, on the banks of the River Great Ouse in Ely, will become a high-quality city restaurant with rooms offering a broad menu, and Millers House will be reconnected with its historic origins – it was originally the miller’s house – to provide seven more bedrooms and further dining options for hotel guests. Acclaimed interior designer Rose Murray from These White Walls is working with Bye to define the look and feel at Millers House and Quay House. The opening date of both projects is yet to be confirmed. 

The acquisition of Quay House confirms Agellus’s position as a provider of city, coast and country hospitality for visitors to East Anglia. 

Bye worked his way through the Tuddenham Mill kitchen to become head chef in 2014. In 2016 he achieved a prestigious Acorn Award from The Caterer, and in the same year won the Acorn Scholarship. Both accolades recognise high achievers under the age of 30 working in the hospitality industry. In 2018 he was made chef patron, in charge of running the hotel and pubs, a position he will retain alongside his directorship.

“There is no other industry that champions talent and rewards energy and hard work like the hospitality industry does,” said Bye. “The opportunities are there and the career progression is exciting and fast for the right people.” 

Agellus director Rachel Harrod described Bye as “an inspirational leader and passionate, with loads of energy for the business”. Chairman Malcolm Walton said: “We have seen an incredible change in the hotel business over the past three years, and Lee has led the team through these changes and business growth. We thank him and the wider team, and look forward to working together to deliver our ambitions and continue to build a better business for the future.”

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall and restrict access – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 12 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 500,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.