TWO young chefs who learned their craft with the legendary Rick Stein in Cornwall are part of the team behind an exciting new restaurant about to open in Llandudno.

The Next Door Restaurant, which opens for business this week on Gloddaeth Street, is the latest stage in the million-pound plus redevelopment of the former Grand Ash site by the owners of the adjoining four-star Dunoon Hotel.

Returning local talent Josh Hughes and Henry Freeman, who both trained under Stein at his famous fish restaurant in Padstow, have joined the Dunoon’s 2 AA Rosette, award-winning culinary team led by Rob Kennish to help get the new venture off the ground.

Charlotte and Rhys Williams, the wife and husband team who own the Dunoon, said: “We already had a great team producing some of the finest dining in the area, but we wanted to bring something new to Llandudno – fine dining quality food but without the faff and formality – and Josh and Henry are helping deliver that.”

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With the emphasis firmly on showcasing local produce, the Next Door Restaurant is aiming to take its place on the roster of year-round quality dining options. Charlotte and Rhys believe it is for independent businesses like their own to actively promote local, North Wales-based producers and suppliers to ensure that money spent in the region stays in the region.

“The problem with many of the chain hotels and restaurants is that much of their supply chain spending and all of their profits go outside the area,” says the couple.

“North Wales has some of the best farmers, brewers, distillers, coffee roasters and fishmongers out there and we need to promote them. Other areas of the UK, such as Cornwall, are rightly celebrated for championing their produce and raising their culinary game, but it’s now time to make a bit more noise up here in North Wales.

“It’s also a vote of confidence in the region that talented, young chefs such as Josh and Henry are choosing here to further their careers.”

Although the new restaurant will still offer the conventional starter/main style of dining, Next Door wants to make a feature of small plates and sharing dishes. This allows to diners to graze and share a whole range of dishes rather than the one or two they might order in a traditional restaurant setting. There is also a comprehensive vegan and vegetarian offer that will appeal to all diners.

“The idea is to get some sociability and shared experience back in to our lives after some troublesome times in isolation,” Charlotte and Rhys added. “We’ve done a lot of work developing a broad and compelling vegan offer, which takes its place at the heart of menu rather than being shunted off to the side as the single, token option you see all too often.”

The Next Door Restaurant opens on Gloddaeth Street in Llandudno this week.

For more visit nextdoorrestaurant.co.uk