Two Tenby hoteliers who became bosses of the business where they were employed have been sharing the success story of their first five years with Welsh Government tourism minister Edwina Hart.

Malcolm Brace and Patrick Jenkins were both working at the town’s Giltar Hotel when the Victorian seafront building came up for sale.

Since takeover in 2009, the Giltar has gone from strength to strength, following ‘a lot of investment and a lot of hard work’ said Mr Brace.

The business partners greeted Mrs Hart on Monday (August 18) and took her and other invited guests on a tour of Giltar before a Bucks Fizz celebration in its sea-view public rooms.

Currently aiming for 4* Visit Wales status, the hotel has seen a makeover of the dining room and restaurant area, the new Cwtch lounge bar and a major bedroom transformation project. The Giltar has also notched up a hat-trick of Wales in Bloom wins for its floral features.

“As the Welsh Government has been amongst our investors, we wanted Mrs Hart to share in our five-year anniversary celebrations, and it is with great pride and pleasure that we have been able to show her what we have achieved at the Giltar, as well as looking ahead to the future,” said Mr Brace.

The hotel has received funding from the Welsh Government’s Single Investment Fund (which has now been replaced by the Tourism Investment Support Scheme), as well as support from the Pembrokeshire Lottery and Pembrokeshire County Council, through the Local Investment Fund.

Commented Mrs Hart: “I’m delighted to be part of this celebration and would like to congratulate Malcolm Brace and Patrick Jenkins on their commitment to invest in the business to ensure that their customers’ demands are met.?

“There is clear evidence that investment in quality facilities supports higher performance and drives profitability and visitors will return time again for a quality experience.? I hope the team at the Giltar will reap the rewards of their investment and have a successful summer.”