It always feels silly to go on holiday to a hotel only an hour away from one’s home. In the past, I’ve just been eager to leave and get back to my bed, but Grove of Narberth is an exception to the rule. It’s situated in Narberth, Pembrokeshire – as the name suggests – and I was more than happy to give up my home for its luxurious walls.
For any period drama fans looking to stay in a place from a bygone era or those who have a passion for stately homes, the Grove won’t disappoint. Its three-storey Georgian façade, hidden by Narberth’s rolling hills and surrounded by 26 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows, are a quiet haven. This is made more spectacular by the hotel’s tasting menus, which can only be described as a work of genius. Little wonder, the Grove is considered one of the best hotels in Pembrokeshire, and I’d argue the most romantic.
Hotel
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by grand gates that give way to sprawling lawns and buildings that look ancient. Centuries-old trees and historic architecture make it clear that the Grove has long been an important location in Pembrokeshire. It dates from the 15th century when a ‘Ty Hir’, meaning ‘Longhouse’, occupied the site and was owned by Tenby’s Bailiff. This Longhouse still sits within the estate’s grounds and neighbours the Poyer’s Cottage, which features original arrow slits, and an inglenook with a bread oven. This cottage is named after Daniel Poyer, a local gentleman who inherited the estate in 1677 and built the walled garden and main building in the 1680s.
Over the years, the main house was added to, creating the impressive staircase, a spacious lounge and a hallway that have been lovingly restored. Today, this dog-friendly hotel has modern creature comforts blending effortlessly with period features, making the Grove one of the county’s best country homes. Its wall decorations of pitchforks, Welsh spoons and rugs, tiled fireplaces and Arts and Crafts panelling likewise expound Wales’s, and the mansion’s, best features. With all this, the Grove is a place where you can’t help but relax.
The staff are also exceptional, and their beaming faces appear at the exact moment when you need them, and they’re clearly there to please. In fact, the staff do their research before you arrive, knowing who you are and what you do, so that they can tailor your stay with recommendations, stories and activities that’ll suit your personality.
Room
Within its three-storey Georgian mansion lies 13 rooms and suites, starting with classic rooms and upgrading to junior and master suites. No matter the room, guests are guaranteed tea and coffee-making facilities, a dressing table and chair, luxurious robes, and bath products. Each has a distinctive appearance, some with traditional fireplaces, four-poster beds, and gilt mirrors. Others have lofty vaulted ceilings with airy white walls and large bouquets in the room.
The names of these rooms have intimate connections with the house’s history, like ‘Templar’, named after the Knights Templar, who had strong connections with Narberth’s hills. Another is called ‘Daniel and Elizabeth’, after the two persons who created the Grove’s epic love story which crossed class boundaries when it wasn’t allowed. Daniel, the owner, fell in love with his housemaid Elizabeth. How romantic is that?
There are several more rooms in the Herb Cottages, the Longhouse and Poyer’s Cottage, all of which have either private south-facing gardens or terraces. I stayed in an Herb Cottage called ‘Sorrel’. It looks like a traditional, stone cottage on the outside, but on the inside is a wonderfully contemporary space with a hallway and three rooms. These had a type of open floor plan with the bedroom giving way to the bathroom, which features a rainfall shower and deep cast iron bath, leading to the lounge, and all joined or separated by white French doors.
The lounge and bedroom have magnificent, vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and low-lit lamps. The walls are simple but boast a trio of old field rakes on the wall, along with smaller garden tools, Welsh miner’s lamps, and local landscape paintings.
There are more thoughtful touches all over the property, including a welcome message and a minibar stocked with snacks to suit dietary needs and drink preferences. If you don’t like anything, the staff will restock the bar before you return from dinner. My favourite features were the wood-burning fireplace, which was lovely to sit by in the evening, and the Bobbin Bowl, featuring all the essential sewing equipment.
The words blissful and decedent come to mind, especially when thinking about the sumptuous beds that were covered with Feather and Down bedding,
Food and drink
With executive chef Douglas Balish at the helm, dining at the Grove is like a gift that keeps on giving. Almost everything offered gives a glimpse of Wales’s best ingredients, with vegetables and herbs sourced from the hotel’s kitchen gardens.
The Fernery is a low-lit restaurant with tables set up for a party of two, while the walls are decorated with ferns handpicked from the hotel’s garden. Each table features a Victorian-looking candle, a circular glass filled with water, and a single fern leaf that wraps around the glass’s circumference. This is a simple design that lends itself to the restaurant’s focus on the homegrown. With such attention to detail, it’s little wonder The Fernery has earned four AA Rosettes, while the hotel holds the five AA red star.
There’s a choice between a five- or eight-course tasting menu. The food is so good that your inner child will have you devouring every crumb on the plate. My favourites were the canapes of avocado purée wrapped in nori seaweed, topped with lemon and wasabi gel, and the beef with wild garlic and morels.
The Artisan Brasserie, with its large windows and views of apple trees, is used for lunch, dinner, and breakfast. The latter continues the staff’s attentive service, offering a to-order menu only, with no cold buffet, but the menu is so extensive that this isn’t a problem.
The menu starts by greeting the reader with ‘Bore Da’, meaning good morning in Welsh and offering starters like freshly baked croissants and fresh fruit salad. The second page, titled ‘to follow’, has a traditional breakfast, buttermilk waffles with maple syrup and my favourite, the crushed avocado on toast with smoked paprika, chilli and coriander, and two fried eggs. Visually this was impressive as the whole ensemble was stacked like pancakes.
To do
With Tenby around 20 minutes away and the Pembrokeshire coastline nearby, there’s plenty to do while staying at the Grove. One of the Grove’s main selling points is that it’s a secluded and quiet haven, where birds chirp to their hearts’ content and woodlands and miles of lawns bloom with all sorts of flowers.
Within its 26 acres, a walk around the property takes around 40 minutes. The Walled Garden is an ideal post-dinner walk, as is a saunter through the Japanese cherry blossoms and around the glistening pond. For an even quieter afternoon, sit in one of the hanging seats under the ancient trees, which is fronted by a carpet of snowdrops, daffodils, and bluebells (depending on the season).
In a nutshell
Honouring its ancient history and Georgian charm with state-of-the-art culinary techniques, the Grove should be at the top of your list of Pembrokeshire hotels. It’s stylish yet cosy, enormous yet intimate, and the food is unique while offering the best local ingredients. And, if you’re a fan of being in the countryside, then the Grove is the perfect place for you.
Factbox
Stays at Grove of Narberth start from £390.
Address: Molleston, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA67 8BX
Phone: +44 (0)1834 860 915
Website: grovenarberth.co.uk
