Grove of Narberth promotes Karen Weisheit to general manager

The hotel manager of Grove of Narberth in Pembrokeshire, Karen Weisheit, has been promoted to general manager of the country house hotel, which is part of the Seren Collection.

Weisheit first joined the Seren Collection seven years ago as assistant restaurant manager of the sister venue Coast Restaurant in Saundersfoot, which has since rebranded to Lan y Môr.

She then took up the position of reception and reservations manager at Grove of Narberth where she was promoted to house manager in 2018, followed by hotel manager in 2022.

During her time at Grove of Narberth the hotel has achieved a number of accolades including winning Front of House Team of the Year at the 2021 Hotel Cateys and Independent Hotel of the Year at the 2022 Cateys. The hotel also won Visit Pembrokeshire Hotel of the Year 2022, and in the same year was awarded five AA red stars and four AA rosettes for its Fernery restaurant.

Meanwhile, Weisheit completed her Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 in 2021 and more recently graduated as a St Julian’s Scholar.

In 2022, she was awarded the GM of the Future by the Master Innholders at the Independent Hotel Show in London, which included a £12,000 scholarship to the management development programme at Cranfield School of Management in 2023, which she recently graduated from.

Neil Kedward, Seren’s chief executive, said: “Karen’s ongoing success is richly deserved. Her commitment and selfless approach have earned her great trust and respect from every member of the team at Grove, across Seren, and indeed the wider industry.

“She is innately sensitive to her team and the guests’ needs and has been patient waiting for this senior management opportunity. Karen really is a wonderful role model for every hospitality professional with ambitions to move into a leadership position.”

Weisheit added: “Grove of Narberth holds a very special place in my heart and being entrusted with the role of general manager is both an honour and a humbling experience.

“Having joined the hotel seven years ago, I could have never imagined how life-changing this move would be. Neil and Zoe [Kedward]’s guidance, along with the trust they’ve had in me, has played such a key part in both my personal and professional development. 

“I am grateful for their support and for the support of colleagues past and present who have helped us all in achieving our ambitions. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for all of us as we continue to build upon the reputation of excellence that the Grove of Narberth has earned so far.”