Who We Are

Sundial Group is a family business, wholly owned by the descendants of Michael and Diana Chudley, who opened the doors of their family home, Highgate House, to guests back in 1964. Initially catering for bed and breakfast visitors and serving afternoon teas, the approach that we maintain to this day stemmed from a request from one of the family's regular guests: a regional sales manager who based himself at Highgate House while he visited his team of Midlands sales people. After a busy day on the road, he idly enquired one mealtime whether he could instead bring his team to Highgate House to meet with him in the Drawing Room. From that request, a business model was born.

Four of Michael and Diana's children are on the board of directors, directing the company's long term strategy and managing its continuing growth. Tim is Managing Director, sisters Jo and Lucy are responsible for Marketing and Human Resources respectively, while brother Robin is a Non-Executive Director representing the interests of the family shareholders. They are joined by Operations Director, Jerry Toth, Sales Director, Mark Cooper and Finance Director, Brian Howes, directing the company's long-term strategy and managing its continuing growth.

Retaining ownership and control, somewhat uniquely among the larger players in the industry, ensures that across our venues we maintain the exceptional standards demanded by the family, and continue to treat customers as family guests. The golden rule of 'treat people as you would wish to be treated' lives on in all our venues.