The Grove of Narberth has been named as the UK’s ‘best countryside retreat’ in a list of luxury hotels this week.

In the Independent publication pick of where to stay for great food, family adventures and spa retreats during 2023, the Pembrokeshire hotel which achieved five star status from AA Hospitality two years ago, is described as the ‘perfect place to kick off your boots’ and enjoy a leisurely ‘post-ramble’ bite to eat.

‘With views out to the Preseli Hills, this country house sits in gorgeous Pembrokeshire, just a few miles from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which has high-drama coastline, 600 miles of trails, golden sandy beaches and quaint harbour villages,’ - stated the Independent newspaper.

‘Interiors combine heritage features – ceramic fireplaces and grand hallways – with vintage Welsh lace and love spoons, and contemporary artwork by local talent.

‘As well as 13 rooms and suites in the main house, there’s a stone-walled longhouse and a handful of cottages with oak-beamed loft rooms.

‘The 4 AA rosette restaurant Fernery serves up modern Welsh cuisine with considerable flair – think delicate plates of home-grown vegetables and Black Bomber cheese and morel tart – while Artisan Rooms Brasserie is more laid-back and a perfect place to kick off your boots and enjoy a leisurely post-ramble bite to eat,’ it added.

Neil and Zoe Kedward, owners of the hotel as part of their wider Seren collection of venues, bought the property back in 2007 after falling in the love with the premises, seeing potential for the derelict house, dilapidated outbuildings and overgrown grounds.

The couple have worked tirelessly to carefully restore the beautiful property with the help of local tradesmen and craftwork specialists, many of whom still help with the ongoing development work.

After launching its first ever Sunday lunch offering recently, where guests can enjoy a 2 or 3-course menu created by Executive Chef, Douglas Balish, the Observer was given a special invitation to sample the dinner delights on offer.

Lunch was served in the delightful and relaxed Artisan Rooms brasserie overlooking the building’s beautiful garden terrace and its canopy of apple trees.

The brasserie is one of Grove’s two restaurants, the other being its fine-dining and award-winning restaurant The Fernery.

The newly introduced three-course Sunday lunch offering in the Artisan Rooms brasserie is a carefully crafted selection of dishes, bursting with bold flavours and wholesome ingredients.

After being shown to our table in the brasserie, for starters, we went for the pork terrine with a celeriac rémoulade and garden chutney; and the fish cake with pickled cucumber and tartare sauce.

For the main plates we decide upon roast beef with broccoli; and roast chicken with wild garlic, both served with anise carrots, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and a selection of vegetables.

We finished off with a selection of Welsh cheeses with chutney, crackers and honey from the dessert choices, and a chocolate and raspberry gateau with lemon sorbet.

The dishes were delicious, beautifully presented, with the ambiance and atmosphere of the setting, providing a memorable experience.

The hospitable hosts who were very welcoming and knowledgeable, also left a great impression, with the staff seeming to truly care about your experience, with all clearly sharing a true passion for great hospitality.

The overall dining experience would most definitely make you want to return to the Grove of Narberth to sample other interesting sounding delights from the expansive menu, and whether you’re a fan of classic comfort food or prefer something with a modern twist, the range of dishes featured on both the lunch and evening choices in the Artisan Rooms Brasserie, seem to include something for everyone.

As dog lovers, we were also delighted to hear from one staff member that the Grove also love pooches, and you may even spot a member of staff with a four-legged team member dutifully following behind, including hotel labradoodle Bronwen, so the hotel grounds and surrounding areas are perfect to visit with your canine companion, and the premises has six dog-friendly rooms, as well as a welcome pack for your pet, and options for dining with them too!

“It’s the first time we’ve offered a Sunday lunch menu in our Artisan Rooms Brasserie and we’re really excited to have this delicious 2- and 3-course menu full of local, seasonal, hearty delights,” said Director of Marketing and Communications Alix White.

“Like most hotels in Pembrokeshire, Grove of Narberth is open to everyone for dining, not just overnight guests.

“Our Sunday lunch menu is already becoming a favourite with both regular and new visitors, and it’s a wonderful way to spend a relaxing lunchtime with friends and family,” she added.

With a history dating back to the 15th century, Grove of Narberth is the perfect place to relax in unbuttoned luxury, delight in sincere hospitality, and enjoy the best local ingredients.

Executive chef Dougie oversees all of the food offerings in the hotel, and it is clear that the team take great pride in offering a diverse range of options, from succulent slow-roasted meats to vibrant vegetarian plates.

The team believes the quality of the food that they serve comes from the freshness of the ingredients they use, and the extensive kitchen gardens provide a delicious harvest of vegetables, herbs and fruits for chefs to utilise throughout the year.

Dougie works closely with the gardening team ahead of each season to plan ahead for his menus, including putting in special requests for unusual varieties of vegetables.

The walled garden is planted with culinary herbs and vegetables, surrounded by cut flowers, and criss-crossed with paths that guests can also explore.

Dougie who joined Grove in 2019, says his style of cooking is all about ‘intelligently showcasing ingredients and natural flavour’.

The warmest of Welsh welcomes awaits you here, as you wander through the thoughtfully restored house and tranquil grounds, hidden in the rolling Narberth hills, surrounded by meadows, woodland and mature gardens.

You can stay in one of the 13 rooms and suites in the main house, with the names of all rooms having a treasured connection with the history of the house itself or the surrounding area.

All have views to the Preseli hills or over the gardens, with rooms in the house spread over three floors, including a delightful top-floor family suite.

Outside the main house, the Grove also offers four delightful cottage suites and deluxe rooms in The Longhouse; Poyer’s Cottage which features junior and master suites; and The Herb Cottages which are set just 100 yards from the main house and include six charming and spacious junior, garden and master suites.

This week, Grove of Narberth shared further ‘exciting’ news as the premise was thrilled to be named as the number one ‘small hotel in the UK’ by Trip Advisor which released its Travellers’ Choice 2023 ‘Best of the Best’ awards.

Grove is also listed as #10 small hotel in Europe; #3 and #19 luxury hotel in the UK and Europe respectively.

For more information and booking, head to: https://grovenarberth.co.uk

3-course lunches in the Artisan Rooms Brasserie from £31.