Day in the Life - Paul Broderick, GM of the Pembroke Kilkenny & Wildfit Coach

Urlingford native Paul Broderick has been the General Manager of the Pembroke Hotel for over 12 years. Previously he worked in various international hotels, mainly crafting his trade with the five-star Sheraton Hotel group. Paul has a degree in humanities, an MBA from SETU and multiple qualifications from Cornell University, the leading hospitality school in the world.

A family selfie - Paul with his wife Sabrina and their children Andrew & Hannah

Married to Sabrina, the couple have two children, Hannah, and Andrew. Paul is obsessed with hotels, food and anything health and fitness related. Basketball and running are two of his passions, and he loves helping people optimize their health through his personal growth business, simplyou.ie  

Paul is also a Wildfit Coach, where he helps people change their lifestyles for the better on a 90-day programme. My husband Ed and I took on the Wildfit challenge last year, and we have never felt better. For us it was a game changer, as it re-educated us about food, sleep and improved our general health.

Here is a glimpse into Paul’s world…

Coming from a large hotel chain to one of Kilkenny’s best independent boutique hotels – The Pembroke, you have seen many changes over your 12 years. 

At first, it was a difficult transition for sure. I went from having a massive support structure to doing multiple roles, but that's to be expected from a small emerging business.

Plus, to be part of building a business from its infancy is a privilege and a rewarding challenge, and the past 12 years have gone by in a flash! We still have so much to do but are having fun on the journey.  The road to excellence has no end as they say.

The day I start to look at my watch will be my last day! I usually wonder how I can fit in an extra hour.

The Pembroke is a special place, recently awarded a top mark in Great Places to Work. We truly have a top team and massive owner support to always do the right thing and keep progressing.

We are probably our own biggest critics, but 2022 has brought solid progression, so I am very proud of what the team has achieved.

What can we look forward to in the Pembroke Hotel for 2023?

2022 was a great year for master planning our long-term vision for the hotel and all the various spaces within. 

We are now about to fully refurbish our Bar, Restaurant, Meeting Rooms, and Bedrooms so that these spaces can really sing. 

The addition of 11 new suites with an amazing view of Kilkenny Castle and Kilkenny countryside is also a very exciting project I’m looking forward to.

We have big plans to elevate our food and Beverage offer even further, with the continued development of our successful Farm to Fork Market menu. If you haven't tried this yet, put it on the list!

I'm also very excited to announce that our top-class events venue is now ready, ideal for parties and celebrations of all sizes. We have had multiple events over Christmas, and the feedback on the space has been very positive.

Ken Harker, our Executive Chef and his team, have shaken up the traditional casual/finger food style offerings, and I feel this is now one of the leading party spaces in the city.

MINT our Medi-Spa continues to grow and with the addition of Gaia, our new treatment menu puts wellness at the forefront.  If you want some time to simply chill and relax, these treatments are so good!

We are also in the final stages of planning permission for a spectacular rooftop experience.  More to follow on that later in the year.

James Quinn, marathon runner with General Manager Paul Broderick in the Pembroke Hotel

Tell us about your company Simplyou and how you balance the busy demands of the Pembroke and being a dad with small kids.

The trick is to find things that bring you energy and put them on repeat! More important for me was seeing the things that robbed me of energy and #simplyditch! I love technology and systems, so anything that can be automated is! This frees me up to spend time in the areas of life that bring me joy. 

Regarding my company Simplyou, the concept has been in my head for about 20 years. It originated in my time working for The Sheraton Grand in Edinburgh. We had 30 top hotel guests, and we wanted to reward their loyalty. So, to support their professional success, we organized healthier in-room dining meals, personal training sessions, in-room massages and more based on their personal goals.

In essence, Simplyou is about helping people be their best selves! Over the past two years, with help from solid partners, Simplyou has evolved to help people with nutrition, exercise, sleep and personal mastery.

Explain what the 90-day program is.

Wildfit is an expertly curated 90-day program that helps clients improve their energy and sleep and release weight safely and sustainably. More importantly, it focuses on food education, giving clients the tools to make more informed decisions about their long-term health and longevity.

I had such a personal growth experience after completing WILDFIT a few years back; I trained as a coach and now offer this program twice a year. 

I thought I ate reasonably healthy before Wildfit, but I was fooling myself, just like the food industry is fooling us. There is so much hidden crap in many of the so-called healthy foods.

Lots of people are starting their New Year’s resolutions this week. However, it's important to emphasize that this is not a diet; it's a lifestyle change.

When you start to eat real food, the brain fog disappears, and you notice your sleep drastically improving. Your body can start doing the things it is designed to do.

What does your Michelin star chef Ken Harker think about Wildfit and can we look forward to some Wildfit dishes on his menu in the Pembroke Hotel?

I have the privilege of working with Ken and his world-class kitchen team. We only use the best of seasonal, local, and Irish ingredients.

We made massive strides this year, winning Kilkenny's Best Casual Dining Restaurant, and Ireland's best hotel Breakfast.  When you buy and serve truly honest food, you can’t go wrong.

Fuelling the Pembroke team for success is something close to my heart. I have been working with Ken and his breakfast team on this in 2022. We are about to level up and launch a NEW team food program Mid-January 2023.  

All dishes will be dairy, grain and refined sugar-free but with loads of texture and flavour.

The exciting thing is that these dishes will be available for our customers. We will also have some healthy, guilt-free treats available on our new Café offering. Look out for the WF symbol on our menu.

What is your best advice or mantra for someone looking for a lifestyle change?

Get clear on your long-term why. For me, that's ensuring that I set an excellent example for my kids.

If you have a compelling reason to live your best life, one that you are emotionally connected to and one that stretches far beyond short-term thinking. You will be in a better position for success.

Most importantly, be nice to yourself. 

All the Pembroke Hotels menus are available online at https://www.pembrokekilkenny.com/stathams-bar-restaurant/

Pual's next Wildfit programme starts on starts on January 30, simply contact Simplyou.ie