05/03/2026
Meet the Couple Bringing New Life to the New Harp Inn.
In the village of Hoarwithy, where the River Wye curves through open countryside and community life moves at a steady, familiar rhythm, the New Harp Inn has long been a gathering place.
But since 2023, its story has taken on new energy.
That change began with Kaytie and Simeon.
The pair first met while working at the Cheltenham Festival, one of the most prestigious fixtures in the British racing calendar.
Hospitality is fast-paced there — demanding precision, teamwork and resilience — and it was in that high-pressure environment that their shared work ethic first became clear.
Kaytie began her career in a local country pub, progressing to hotels and steadily working her way up through wedding and event management, overseeing both intimate celebrations and large-scale functions. She later progressed into hotel management, leading high-end, large-scale operations with confidence and precision.
Throughout her career, she has developed a strong focus on organisation, exceptional customer experience, and the delivery of seamless events — skills that now define both the atmosphere and day-to-day operations of the pub.
Simeon’s journey began in London, where he started as a kitchen assistant in high-end restaurants. From those early days of preparation work and long hours, he rose through the ranks to lead two AA Rosette-awarded kitchens and cater at prestigious events, including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and race days at Royal Ascot. He later worked freelance, supporting numerous country pubs with both short- and long-term kitchen cover. His background brings refined culinary standards to a rural setting — a quality increasingly reflected in the pub’s growing reputation for outstanding food.
Together, and raising four children — Leilani (8), Greyson (6), Theo (3) and Kaiden (1) — they had long shared the ambition to build something of their own. In March 2023, they stepped into management at the New Harp Inn. By August 2025, convinced of its untapped potential, they became our Tenant Partners, gaining the autonomy to shape its future.
What they saw was more than a pub. They saw a hub.
During winter months, the New Harp welcomes local shoot parties, race yards, farmers and villagers. It hosts book clubs, community meetings and coffee mornings following village litter-picking efforts. Fundraising events support “We Are Farming Minds,” a mental health charity dedicated to the farming community — a cause closely aligned with the rural population the pub serves.
Under their direction, new initiatives have followed. A popular Sunday carvery now anchors the week. An online takeaway service responds to modern demand. Plans are underway to introduce a small on-site village shop — a practical addition in a community where the nearest towns are over twenty minutes away by car.
Investment has followed ambition. Since August, the pub’s interior has been refurbished, we have backed the partnership with external redecoration, new signage, upgraded lighting and a redesigned outdoor trading area — all these improvements due for completion by early April.
Behind the pub lies another significant benefit, a campsite capable of hosting up to 600 guests from Easter through September. For Kaytie, this seasonal influx is crucial. During those months, Hoarwithy’s population swells dramatically, bringing fresh opportunity.
The summer calendar already reflects that growth, with weddings, local events, a circus, discos, race nights and even a visiting clairvoyant booked in.
Positioned halfway between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye, and serving as a stopping point for canoeists navigating the River Wye, the New Harp attracts an eclectic mix — from outdoor adventurers to farming families, from racegoers to campers.
In just six months as tenants, Kaytie and Simeon have overseen measurable change: operational growth, physical improvements and expanded community engagement and we are really proud to partner with them!
Yet the story feels far from complete.
With Kaytie’s drive, Simeon’s culinary grounding and our support and backing, the New Harp Inn is not simply maintaining its place at the heart of Hoarwithy — it is redefining it.
As the next phase begins, the momentum suggests its best chapters are still to come. Pay them a visit you wont be disappointed
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