Its a family affair…
Miles and Audrey Hunter bought Pen-y-Dyffryn in March 1988, so they have been welcoming guests to the hotel for over thirty years now.
Prior to this they were both living in Hampshire, with two young children, both boys, and they were working in or around London. They were both Chartered Surveyors – Miles a Land Agent, Audrey a University lecturer. But they gave it all up for the “Good Life” at the ripe old age of 33. (Perhaps they’d been watching too much Felicity Kendall on TV). This was an early case of downsizing, long before the term was even invented.
Prior to their arrival, Pen-y-Dyffryn was mainly trading as a restaurant, with the emphasis being on functions. (Thankfully we no longer perform functions!) They had a wedding booked on day three, and with zero experience as restaurateurs they didn’t even know how to turn on a commercial oven! And Miles had a temperature of 105 with stress induced flu’. It all went fine on the night, and there have been many other occasions since then when the duck was swimming smoothly on the surface while paddling furiously underneath.
After seven years in residence they finally found the time and energy to have a third child, this time a daughter. Mother and daughter escape to the adjoining fields as often as possible to be with their beloved horses. Miles likes a spot of golf and walking the surrounding hills with his dogs – Lola the Cockapoo, and Bali a Retriever cross Spaniel that belongs to his son Tommy.
In 2018 two of their three children took over the day-t0-day running of the hotel from them. Tommy and Charlotte are now making a big contribution to the hotel, including bringing more contemporary design ideas into the decor, and adding a further two bedrooms in a barn conversion. But Miles and Audrey still claim to have the final word!
Pen-y-Dyffryn Country Hotel – Staff
Pen-y-Dyffryn has a surprisingly large body of staff for a 14 bedroom hotel, but it is a busy hotel, often full even in the winter months thanks to our loyal regulars.
Our Head Chef and creative genius is Lewis Barton. We have maintained our unbroken record of twenty four years holding two AA Rosettes.
Our fantastic Hotel Manager is Tamsin.
And there’s still too much for everyone to do!
