Executive Head Chef Allister Barsby to leave Grove of Narbeth in June
The Seren Collection have announced that Executive Head Chef Allister Barsby will depart Grove of Narberth in the summer to open his own restaurant in the small coastal market town of Hythe. His partner Alice Bussi who is the Seren Collection Food & Beverage Manager will also be departing with Allister to launch their exciting new life together in his home county of Kent.
Allister joined the Grove of Narberth in Jan 2016. During his time in Pembrokeshire, Allister has raised the Good Food Guide cooking score to 6 in the restaurant and retained 3 AA Rosettes. Alice successfully launched the Beach House Restaurant on the Gower in June 2016 before taking on the Group Food & Beverage Management role 12 months later. Last year she was awarded a prestigious Catey Award as Food & Beverage Manager of the Year.
Managing Director of The Seren Collection, Neil Kedward said:
“It has been a pleasure working with Alice and Allister. The couple have had a hugely positive impact on our business over the last 3 years. We are delighted with all that Allister has achieved with the food offering at the Grove and Alice has been dynamic force in our business launching both the Beach House Oxwich and Artisan Rooms casual dining restaurant at the Grove. We would like to thank them both for all their hard work and commitment whilst they have been with us in Pembrokeshire and sincerely wish them both all the best in their new restaurant venture. Hythe are blessed to have such a talented couple coming to their town to run what we know for sure will be a fabulous restaurant.”
The Seren Collection have now started a search for an outstanding Executive Head Chef to take over the reins at Grove of Narberth. Their fine dining Fernery Restaurant together with the rest of the hotel public areas were fabulously refurbished in the Spring of 2018 by the acclaimed designer Martin Hulbert. Further investment in the kitchens is now planned to give the new chef the best possible start to life in Pembrokeshire. Allister’s replacement will also be given the chance to reinvent the Fernery and Artisan Rooms offering and be instrumental in the future direction of the hotel and restaurant.
Thomas Ferrante the new General Manager said ‘Grove and its guests deserve the very best food. The owners Zoe and Neil have created an exceptional venue together which is now perfectly placed to appeal to a chef that has achieved at the highest level in the hospitality sector. We are searching for the very best who can see Grove and Pembrokeshire as a place to settle in the longer term so that Grove and exceptional Welsh produce becomes truly synonymous with the quality of their food and skill level.’