The interior-designer planned rooms will have calm contemporary colour ways of burgundy or neutral beige, with air conditioning fitted in every room, along with new bathrooms with heated mirrors.

The hotel already has excellent disabled access but five of the new rooms will be specially equipped for people with disabilities.

Major investment has already been made to improving drainage at the hotel’s 18-hole golf course. This, along with a specialist maintenance programme, meant Botley Park was one of the only courses in the area to remain open every day last winter.

The refurbishment and building work will be carried out in stages with the first phase expected to be completed by April next year.

Gordon, 39, has taken charge of the Macdonald owned hotel at Boorley Green, after 18 years in the industry, having managed some of the UK’s most exclusive privately-owned country house hotels.

These include 12th century Amberley Castle, near Arundel and the Jacobean Welcombe Hotel at Stratford-upon-Avon, which stands on land once owned by Shakespeare.

He has joined Macdonald from Donnington Valley Hotel and Golf Course at Newbury, sister hotel to the Vineyard at StockCross, the most highly award rated hotel in the UK.

Now Gordon has his sights set on enhancing every aspect of 100 bedroom Botley Park, which stands in 176 acres of parkland with spa, golf club and conference centre.