A new general manager has been appointed to oversee the £2 million refurbishment of a prominent hotel in the popular Mid Wales book town of Hay-on-Wye.
Neil McNamara joins The Swan at Hay Hotel after 12 years as general manager of the Forest Hotel, Dorridge, Solihull, where the restaurant was awarded two rosettes by the AA every year under his management.
A native of Kent, he is a qualified chef who began his career with Scottish and Newcastle Retail for four years and was food and beverage manager at both the award winning Black Swan in Helmsley, Yorkshire and the Great Victoria in Bradford.
“After being at the Forest Hotel for 12 years, I was looking for a new challenge and The Swan at Hay Hotel provides that,” he said. “It’s the only hotel in Hay-on-Wye and has had a good reputation in the past. My job is to return it to its former glory.
“We are aiming to be a destination for good quality food, catering for tourists, walkers, families and local people. Our head chef Jerry Adam’s ever evolving food offering includes good quality, home cooked classics that have universal appeal.”
Work on the hotel’s exterior, including a new roof, is almost complete and four of the 19 rooms have been refurbished to introduce a modern, fresh style, with the remainder to follow by the end of November. Local builders and craftsmen are being employed to undertake the work.
In his spare time, Neil enjoys mountain biking, new technology and reading, which is particularly appropriate in a town renowned for its book shops and literary festival. He’s also keen on listening to and playing music as a multi-instrumentalist.
“I am very much a city boy, but it’s nice to get away to this absolutely gorgeous part of the country,” he said. “It’s a new experience for me to work in this type of environment and I’m enjoying it.”
The Swan Hotel is one of five hotels, including the multi-award winning Llangoed Hall at nearby Llyswen, owned by Llangoed Limited.
Group managing director, Calum Milne, said: “We are delighted to welcome Neil to both The Swan and the group. The full refurbishment of The Swan will be completed later this year, weather permitting and local builders and craftsmen are being used to undertake the work, as we are strong believers in shopping and spending local wherever possible.
“We have recently added two more properties to the group’s portfolio and have aspirations to expand further in the coming months. We have no intention of standing still, as we wish to be leaders in raising the standard of hospitality in the UK.”
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