The manager of the Grand hotel in Brighton has suddenly quit after 20 years.

Richard Baker, 49, unexpectedly announced he was leaving, telling colleagues he wanted to spend more time with his family.

His departure has shocked the city's tourism industry in which he has been a leading light since the early Eighties.

Mr Baker was credited with reviving the Grand's reputation as one of the most prestigious hotels in the UK after it was ripped apart by the 1984 IRA bomb.

He also played a key role in ensuring the city built on its reputation enabling it to attract high-profile conferences and events.

Mr Baker, who is married and has two children James, 20, and Lucie, 18, said he would take a lengthy holiday before plans for his future.

He said: "This year is my 50th and I have been at the Grand for 20 years.

"It has been the number one thing in my life.

"I've had great times and great challenges but this year I decided I wanted a change in lifestyle.

"In a place like the Grand you're working six days a week. It's hard work. You never find the space to think for yourself.

"I've talked it through with a lot of business colleagues and they have all said: 'It's about time you got a life'.

"I'm not going through a mid-life crisis. This is what I want to do.

"I've been talking about it for several months and decided last week to leave."

His resignation came a day after parent company De Vere reported a 28 per cent rise in profits.

The company has been under pressure from minority shareholder GPG to ditch its hotels division.

However, Mr Baker, who was named Sussex Businessman of the Year last year, said GPG's attempt to force a sale did not influence his decision to leave.

"That is not a factor. I am a shareholder in De Vere and I do not want to see GPG winning. I do not think it stands a chance.

"There was certainly never any intention of selling The Grand."

Asked why he made such a sudden departure, without completing a period of notice, he said: "The company has been amazingly supportive.

"I did not believe it was fair on the hotel to stay on while I had an agenda of leaving.

"It has a strong team which is very capable of maintaining the business and looking forward."

Mr Baker joined the De Vere hotel group in the Seventies as a hotel general manager in Eastbourne and was assigned to the Grand after the IRA bomb during a Conservative Party conference 20 years ago which led to five deaths and 30 injuries.

He oversaw the re-building of the hotel's front and interior and worked with the Brighton and Hove Hotel Association to bring more conferences to the area.

He said: "My time at the Grand has seen major changes to hotels and tourism, like recognising the Brighton Festival is tourism, that shopping is tourism. It's amazing how much things have changed.

"The Grand is unique. It offers a service no other hotel has. It has got Brighton as the hinterland. If it were anywhere else, it would not work - the success of Brighton has given it success."

Simon Fanshawe, chairman of Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said Mr Baker had been a driving force for the city's tourism.

He said: "He has always made a tremendous contribution, both personally and through the De Vere group."

Roger Marlowe, chairman of Brighton and Hove Hotel's Association, said: "Whenever you looked around the Grand, Richard was here, there and everywhere. He was a fantastic manager.

"He was absolutely brilliant at what he did. it's a tremendous loss to Brighton."

Tuesday May 04, 2004