Over one hundred people turned out on an icy night to celebrate the re-launch of The Knighton Hotel in Powys, on February 2. Guests included local residents, civic dignitaries and members of the business community.
Now independently owned and privately run, the Knighton Hotel has undergone a major programme of refurbishment over the past few years. Guests at the re-launch were welcome to tour the hotel, to view the transformation of areas such as the resident’s lounge, King Offa’s Restaurant and the large period function room. With capacity for up to 100 guests the restyled function room offers an atmospheric sixteenth century backdrop for weddings and special events.
It really affected the local people when the hotel was closed,” commented Ella Neal-Reynolds, from the Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton. “It’s wonderful to see the building returned to its former glory and open again at the heart of the town.”
There was also an opportunity for guests to meet the new executive chef, Sean Kyle, who demonstrated his culinary flair with a variety of mouth-watering canapés; these included lobster with beetroot and sushi gari and goats cheese wasabi bon bon. A self taught chef, Sean has almost 20 years experience of the restaurant industry and has previously worked at a number of Michelin Star venues such as Raymond Blanc's multi-award winning Le Manoir Restaurant in Oxford, and Michael Caines’ Restaurant at Abode, in Manchester. He is also the main chef on tour with the Under 21’s England football team – a role he will continue to play in conjunction with his new position at The Knighton.
Hotel proprietor Gianni D’Aniello hopes local people will welcome the opportunity to enjoy the restaurant’s new menu, created by Sean using local ingredients wherever possible and based on wholesome dishes with plenty of flavour.