It’s been a busy start to the year at Celtic Manor in Wales, with the resort launching a new fine dining restaurant just weeks after buying the nearby Hilton Newport.

The acquisition of the 148-guestroom property – for an undisclosed amount – bolsters the Celtic Manor portfolio, which also includes the main Resort Hotel, the Manor House, the Newbridge on Usk, and 10 luxury Hunter Lodges.

Celtic Manor plans to continue running Hilton Newport as a hotel, under a new name to be confirmed when contracts are completed at the end of March. The property boasts a wide range of leisure amenities including a fitness room, swimming pool, spa bath, bar, lounge and restaurant. All hotel team members will be retained when Celtic Manor takes over the property.

“Occupancy at the Celtic Manor Resort is currently running at 90 per cent and there are many nights when we could easily exceed our capacity of 400 bedrooms,” said Celtic Manor Resort CEO Ian Edwards.

“The additional bedrooms at the newly-acquired hotel will help address our need for more accommodation across all our markets – conference and business, golf and leisure.”

Meanwhile, the new Epicure restaurant has been unveiled at the main Celtic Manor Resort. Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Richard Davies – who worked in the kitchens of the original Celtic Manor Hotel as a teen before enjoying Michelin success alongside Gordon Ramsay and on his own – the restaurant will offer haute cuisine showcasing the finest local produce.

“It feels like coming home and I’m exciting about the challenge of creating and developing a new fine dining experience for Celtic Manor,” said Davies.

“It’s a beautiful dining room and Celtic Manor is a stunning hotel. I know I’m coming back to the best hotel in Wales and now I want to give it the best restaurant in Wales.”

Davies’ new offering follows the recent launch of Cen at Celtic Manor – the first eatery from 2013 MasterChef finalist Larkin Cen – taking the five-star resort’s restaurant count to seven in total.