Norfolk duo unleash Animal

Gregory Adjemian and Daniel Smith bought the pub group under their joint company G&D Ventures, planning to significantly grow their business with re-branding and development of the sites, at the same time investing in the local community.

Smith, who previously worked as executive chef at Animal Inns before joining the Ingham Swan, said: “We’re going to offer the same product that we offer at the Ingham Swan – we’ve been called casual fine dining. Everything will be made on site: if we don’t make it we don’t sell it.

“As it stands it will be business as usual for the current [Animal Inns] employees, just enhanced by my operational presence. The food will be streamlined down in line with what we do at the Ingham Swan.”

The duo plan to expand the Wildebeest Arms with the addition of seven guest bedrooms, which Smith estimates could be operational in 18 to 24 months.  

Adjemian said: “We have a solid and achievable plan to significantly grow our business; we’re committed to investing in Norfolk, we’ve got real purpose and the talent in our team to back this up.

“Through this acquisition we are putting a firm stake in the ground. There’s no going back for us – we’re hungry and driven by our plans. Both the Wildebeest and the Mad Moose are located in prime locations and we feel we can add value to both sites to take them to the next level.”

Past accolades​

The Ingham Swan has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand and two AA rosettes for the past five years.

Smith also previously worked at Michel Roux Jr’s London restaurant Le Gavroche as well as luxury Norfolk hotel Morston Hall, where he earned a Michelin star at 23 years old.