The team behind Grove of Narberth hotel and sister restaurant Coast, Saundersfoot recently revealed plans to open our new beachfront restaurant on the Gower Peninsula in South West Wales. Today they announce the leadership team to run this new project, to be named ‘The Beach House’.
Head Chef will be acclaimed chef and native Welshman Hywel Griffith. Griffith, a fluent Welsh speaker, grew up in Bethesda in Gwynedd and honed his craft at Coleg Menai in Bangor before joining the Lanesborough in London as Commis Chef. His next role was as Sous Chef with Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor before returning to Wales as Sous Chef at Ynyshir Hall near Machynlleth. During his time at Ynyshir Hall the restaurant achieved three Rosettes and a Michelin star.
His first Head Chef position was at Paul Heathcote’s Longridge Restaurant where he earned three AA Rosettes). In 2011, he moved into the Head Chef role at the Freemasons at Wiswell which became the first and only pub restaurant in the UK to be awarded a cooking score of 7/10 in The Good Food Guide.
Hywel said, “As a fluent Welsh speaker I am very proud to be involved with this exciting project, opening up a stunning beachfront restaurant with Neil and Zoe in my native country. I’ve already started jotting down lots of ideas for new dishes and very much look forward to working alongside Glamorgan’s local producers, not to mention the quality and freshness of the seafood that we’ll be serving.”
Joining Hywel will be experienced Restaurant Manager Alice Bussi. Alice joins from The Bath Priory Hotel where she has managed the Michelin-starred restaurant since July 2014. Alice moved here in 2012, quickly progressing from Sommelier to Restaurant Manager. Before moving to The Bath Priory Alice worked at a number of luxury Italian hotels and completed an accreditation with the Italian Sommelier Association. She has also worked at the 5-star Gallia Palace Hotel in Tuscany and the Crystal Hotel in St Moritz.
Alice said, “When I met Neil and Zoe I felt right away that we could work together to build something great. The Beach House will combine a fantastic location and special atmosphere with fine service and excellent food – I might even learn a little Welsh!”
The Beach House, which is due to open in June 2016, will seat 60 in the dining room and a further 50 guests on the large terrace area with extraordinary views across Oxwich and Three Cliffs Bay. It will be designed by leading interior designer Martin Hulbert.