Grove of Narberth appoints first general manager

07 September 2016 by Katherine Price

The Grove of Narberth, a luxury country house hotel in Pembrokeshire, has appointed Louise Barber as its first general manager as part of the team's wider strategic plans.

Following the recent addition of six luxury suites at the four-AA-red-star hotel, taking the number of rooms to 26, owners Zoe Agar and Neil Kedward will now take a step back from the day to day operations of the hotel to focus on wider strategic challenges.

The hotel has won numerous awards, including Pride of Britain Hotel of the Year 2015, the AA Red Star Inspectors' Choice Award 2012-2015 and the Good Hotel Guide Welsh Hotel of the Year 2016.
Allister Barsby was appointed executive chef of the hotel's three-AA-rosette restaurant last year.

Agar and Kedward also own the Coast restaurant and Kiosk café in Saundersfoot and the newly opened Beach House restaurant at Oxwich on the Gower peninsula.

Originally from Derbyshire, Barber worked in the property industry for 15 years before moving to the south of France to run a horse riding holiday group. She moved to Pembrokeshire, joining the Grove management team, in 2013, and has held a variety of senior roles including revenue manager, head of reception and reservations, and more recently duty manager.

Barber said: "I'm really excited to be taking on this new role. It's the first time the hotel has had a general manager in place so it's an exciting opportunity for me. Grove really is a special place filled with special people and it's a privilege to be given this role to lead such a fabulous team of hospitality professionals."

Kedward added: "This is an important stepping stone for Grove of Narberth. We needed someone who has the capability, energy and commercial awareness to run a large and thriving hotel. Like Zoe and I, Louise hasn't come from a traditional hospitality background but her natural charm and intelligence sets her apart. We wish her every success in her new role."

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