A new award to honour the best in the UK
We’re incredibly proud to share that Cathryn Bell, Head Sommelier at Grove of Narberth, has been named Sommelier of the Year at the 2026 AA Restaurant Awards.
The award, introduced for the first time this year, recognises the most talented sommeliers working across the UK hospitality industry. Cathryn’s win reflects the knowledge, creativity and warmth she brings to the dining experience at Grove of Narberth, and especially within our 4 AA Rosette Fernery restaurant.
For anyone who has spent time with Cathryn in the restaurant, the recognition will come as no surprise. She has a remarkable ability to make wine feel exciting and approachable, whether guiding guests through a tasting menu pairing in Fernery or helping someone discover a new favourite bottle in the Artisan Rooms Brasserie. Her warmth, humour and curiosity create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking questions, exploring new flavours and enjoying the experience.
An unusual career path
Originally from Ammanford in South Wales, Cathryn’s journey into wine was anything but conventional. After studying Swahili at university and spending time living and travelling in East Africa, she developed a fascination with cultures, flavours and the ways people connect through food and drink. That curiosity eventually led her into hospitality, where she built her career in some of Ireland’s most respected hotels and restaurants before returning closer to home in Wales.
Since joining Grove of Narberth, Cathryn has worked closely with Executive Chef Douglas Balish to develop a drinks programme that reflects the same sense of place and seasonality that defines the kitchen. Together they have created a wine experience rooted in Welsh produce, local suppliers and the landscapes surrounding Narberth and the Pembrokeshire countryside.
Sharing a passion for wine
Cathryn has a distinctive way of talking about flavour that makes complex ideas feel simple and engaging. She often compares wine to music, explaining that each bottle carries base, mid and top notes like a chord. Through carefully chosen pairings, those notes can change and evolve, allowing guests dining with us to discover how a single wine can reveal different personalities across a meal.
Her creativity extends beyond traditional wine service. Cathryn helped introduce one of the first dedicated non alcoholic pairing flights to accompany the Fernery tasting menu, carefully crafting drinks using tea infusions, botanicals and balanced acidity so that guests choosing not to drink alcohol can still enjoy the same harmony between food and drink.
Cathryn’s award is a wonderful moment not only for her personally, but for the entire team at Grove of Narberth. Hospitality is always a collective effort, and Cathryn’s creativity, generosity and enthusiasm sit at the heart of the experience we strive to create for our guests.
Her work has helped shape one of the most distinctive wine experiences in Pembrokeshire, and we look forward to welcoming many of you to discover it for yourselves.
