Galloping Ahead (From Free Press Series)

Galloping Ahead

A specialist company which aims to create a select group of high-quality gastro-pubs has acquired a second property in Wales.

Headed by Phil Thomas, Artizan Leisure has bought The Horseshoe in Mamhilad. It also owns The Bush in St Hilary, Vale of Glamorgan, and there are plans to acquire a select number of pubs to complete the group over the next few years.

Each pub will be developed on an individual basis, with no corporate theme or design. Phil Thomas, who has a wealth of experience managing quality hotels and restaurants, is convinced that there is a huge market for establishments that offer the finest quality food with the informality of a pub.

He said: "This is an exciting opportunity to make The Horseshoe one of the leading food venues of the area. Location is key and this country pub is set in the foothills of Mynydd Garn Wen in the Brecon Beacons National Park and is ideally situated to attract a mixture of locals, business people from the local business park and families exploring the breathtaking scenery. "Ultimately, we want to position it as a two AA rosette establishment. This will show that our restaurant has been inspected by the AA and awarded two rosettes for innovation, technical skill and judgement in combining and balancing ingredients to create quality food which you would expect in a hotel," he said.