A RESTAURANT at a five-star holiday park in Southern Snowdonia has been crowned the best in North Wales in the Welsh edition of National Restaurant Awards 2019.
Based at Islawrffordd Caravan Park near Barmouth, the Nineteen.57 Restaurant and Bar was named champion at a sparkling awards ceremony in Cardiff’s Exchange Hotel.
Receiving the praise of judges was chef Sion Wellings who took over the lease of the restaurant with his mother Iola five years ago.
Sion said he was “surprised but delighted” when he was first told that Nineteen.57 was one of ten restaurants in North Wales nominated and shortlisted for the award:
“We haven’t tended to focus on serving good quality, freshly-prepared food,” he said.
“The restaurant has established a loyal following of both local diners and holiday guests at the park – and our talented, hard-working staff team deserve a big share of the credit.
“This is the first award we have ever won, and it’s an immensely proud moment for us,” added Sion who was previously sous chef at Portmeirion for eight years.
As well as fine dining, the restaurant has held many successful themed evenings, charity events, parties, weddings, baby showers and black-tie dinners over the past five years.
Sion made the award ceremony a family affair by taking his parents Paul and Iola Wellings, grandparents John and Jean Roberts, aunt Julie Hughes, and sister-in-law Jamie Wellings.
In a joint statement, the directors of Islawrffordd Caravan Park, Gwynfor, Dylan and Geraint Evans and John Billingham, congratulated Sion and Iola for their award success.
Located on the Cambrian Coast, Islawrffordd Caravan Park has around 200 holiday homes, 75 fully serviced touring pitches, and facilities including an indoor swimming pool, sauna and spa pool.
The park has previously won the AA’s Best Campsite in Wales awartd, and was a finalist at the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards in October.
There is more information about the park and its restaurant at www.islawrffordd.co.uk
