- Service Award 2023
Hidden deep in the Pembrokeshire countryside, in the west of Wales, the Grove is a beautifully restored three-storey Jacobean mansion that was extended in an Arts & Crafts style in the 19th Century.
It was in a miserable, derelict state before Neil and Zoe Kedward bought the property in 2007 and rebuilt the 15th Century Longhouse and 16th Century Poyer’s Cottage in the grounds, and transformed the main house and gardens while preserving its historic charm.
Set in 26 acres, guests can wander woodlands rich in wild flowers with Japanese cherry blossoms blooming in the spring and rhododendrons filling the gardens with colour in the summer. Surrounded by ancient oaks and beech trees, you can climb the glade for breath-taking views to the Preseli Hills.
Bedrooms combine original features and traditional textures with modern touches and a sprinkling of Welsh art and antiques. The 13 rooms in the main house all have a view of the hills or the gardens and they include a family suite.
The Longhouse has four spacious suites and rooms, two of them with glass garden lounges and terraces, while two more suites are found in the Poyer’s Cottage with its arrow-slit windows, inglenook fireplace and bread oven. A hundred yards away, the Herb Cottages house six suites amid gorgeous flower beds.
The Fernery Restaurant is presided over by executive chef Douglas Balish and offers refined dishes showcased by no fewer than eight tasting menus to suit your dietary needs and mood, paired with wines selected by head sommelier Alexios Stasinopoulos.
Or for a more relaxed experience at lunch or dinner there’s the Artisan Rooms overlooking the garden terrace with its canopy of apple trees. The menu here is based on fresh, seasonal produce inspired by the Grove’s walled kitchen garden where a variety of vegetables, summer fruits and herbs are grown.
