At home at Horwood: Kitchen porter celebrates two decades at luxury Buckinghamshire hotel with four staff family members
A kitchen porter is celebrating 20 years in the role at a luxury Buckinghamshire hotel – that also employs four of his family.
66-year-old Andrzej Czach joined Horwood House Hotel, an award-winning, 4-star country house hotel and conference venue in Little Horwood, near Milton Keynes, in 2005. Back then, at 46, Andrzej had previously worked in maintenance at a hospital and was looking for something different in the hospitality sector.
The hard-working kitchen porter, who has been commended by colleagues for his attention to detail in keeping the Grade II listed building’s kitchen spotless, soon encouraged his nephew Dawid Kuciapa to join as an assistant housekeeping manager in 2006, before his wife Maria joined as a cleaner in 2011.
But it was only when the hotel moved from being part of a group to independently owned in 2019, that Andrzej and his family truly felt “at home.”
In addition to a £6.5million refurbishment of the property, the hotel saw an overhaul in team culture, repositioning the venue as not just a place of employment but a place of belonging, where staff feel a part of the wider Horwood family.
Andrzej recalls: “Family is everything to me, so when I would see our new owner bringing his own family to work, it inspired me to invite my family to come and work at Horwood House.”
Impressed with the hotel’s high standard benchmark for employee wellbeing following the change in ownership, Andrzej’s son Dariusz was welcomed into the Horwood family as a housekeeping supervisor in 2021, before his granddaughter Dominika Halon joined in 2025 as a room attendant.
Commenting on 20 years at Horwood House, Andrzej said: “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years already! Horwood House truly feels like home, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of working here. What makes it even more special is being able to share this journey with my family. The hotel has supported all of us and it’s a great place to work. I’m proud to be part of an environment that champions excellence in everything it does, while prioritising staff wellbeing."
Due to its strong belief in extending support beyond the employed staff member to their wider family network, Andrzej’s family is currently one of many family groups working at the hotel – proudly helping multiple generations of families to enjoy a rewarding career.
Caroline Morrone, General Manager at Horwood House Hotel, said: “It is a true privilege to celebrate Andrzej’s remarkable 20-year tenure at Horwood House. His dedication, professionalism and attention to detail have been instrumental in maintaining the high standards of our kitchen, and he is a key part of the success we’ve achieved. His long-standing commitment is a reflection of the supportive and family-oriented environment we strive to cultivate here.”
She continued: “We pride ourselves on offering a workplace that values personal growth, work-life balance and a close-knit team atmosphere. We invest in our staff’s development, provide a wide range of benefits, and ensure that every team member feels valued and supported. Andrzej’s milestone is a testament to the fulfilling and rewarding career opportunities we aim to offer at Horwood House."
Independently owned, Horwood House Hotel has become one of the most in-demand venues for weddings, spa breaks and corporate events in Buckinghamshire.
For more information on Horwood House Hotel, visit www.horwoodhouse.co.uk