‘Exciting news for Karen’ 23 August 2024

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the Grove of Narberth. After seven incredible years of dedication and growth within the Seren family, Karen Weisheit has been promoted to General Manager of our beloved country house hotel.

Karen’s journey with us began over seven years ago as Assistant Restaurant Manager at our sister venue, Coast Restaurant in Saundersfoot. Her talent and passion quickly shone through, leading her to become the Reception & Reservations Manager at Grove of Narberth shortly thereafter. By 2018, she had earned the role of House Manager, and in 2022, she was promoted to Hotel Manager. Now, as General Manager, Karen continues to inspire us all with her leadership and vision.

Under Karen’s stewardship, Grove of Narberth has achieved remarkable milestones, including being named SLH (Small Luxury Hotels) Hotel of the Year for 2023/24. She played a key role in our team’s success at the 2022 Cateys, winning Independent Hotel of the Year, Visit Pembrokeshire Hotel of the Year 2022, and Front of House Team of the Year at the 2021 Hotel Cateys. Additionally, in 2022, Grove was awarded 5 AA red stars and 4 AA rosettes for its Fernery restaurant, placing us among the top hotels in the UK.

Karen’s personal achievements are just as impressive. She completed her Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 in 2021, graduated as a St Julians Scholar, and won the ‘GM of the Future’ award by the Master Innholders at the Independent Hotel Show in London. This accolade earned her a £12,000 scholarship to the Management Development Program at Cranfield School of Management, which she recently completed.

Reflecting on her journey, Karen shared, “Grove of Narberth holds a very special place in my heart. Being entrusted with the role of General Manager is both an honour and a humbling experience. The guidance from Neil and Zoe, along with the trust they’ve placed in me, has been instrumental in my personal and professional development. I’m deeply grateful for their support and for the colleagues who have helped us achieve our ambitions. I look forward to seeing what the future holds as we continue to build upon the reputation of excellence that the Grove of Narberth has earned so far.”

Our Chief Executive Neil Kedward added, “Karen’s success is richly deserved. Her commitment and selfless approach have earned her great trust and respect from everyone at Grove, across Seren, and in the wider industry. She’s an outstanding role model for every hospitality professional with leadership ambitions. Zoe and I couldn’t be prouder of her, and we wish her every success as she leads her team to new heights.”