September 2010 – Stephen Terry picks up the AA Restaurant of the Year Wales Award for his Abergavenny restaurant, The Hardwick.

Attended by industry chefs, hoteliers and restaurateurs, last night’s AA Hospitality Awards 2010, held at the London Hilton on Park Lane was a momentous evening for Chef Stephen Terry whose Abergavenny restaurant, The Hardwick, picked up the prestigious AA Restaurant of the Year Wales Award. It’s been one hell of a fortnight, having also thrown open the shutters on 8 new bedrooms and seen a newly refurbished bar and restaurant packed to the rafters during the Abergavenny Food Festival.

“We selected The Hardwick as AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales because this delightful country road side restaurant has fast become one of Wales’ most popular dining destinations. This is in no small way due to the passion and dedication of acclaimed chef patron, Stephen Terry, who along with his family has put everything into making this a fantastic, value for money destination restaurant.”
Giovanna Grossi, AA

“This feels like an almighty pat on the back for all of us. Creating consistency and exceeding expectations is only possible because I've got a really great, finely tuned orchestra at work. I'm simply the conductor.”
Stephen Terry, chef patron The Hardwick.

FOOD AT THE HARDWICK
The Hardwick is a country pub which very much leans towards being a restaurant. This is largely due to the owner, critically acclaimed chef Stephen Terry, being a cook by nature and not a publican. A place where everybody is made to feel welcome, whether it be for a quick pint or meeting friends and family for lunch or dinner, The Hardwick has a simple & honest philosophy- to source, cook and serve to the best of its abilities at all times.

Produce is treated with the respect it deserves and served with the minimum of fuss and maximum of flavour, using seasonal produce that allows customers and staff alike to look forward to certain ingredients throughout the year.

Creating The Hardwick has been a labour of love for Stephen, with the combination of his honest and intelligent food with The Hardwick’s relaxed, unstuffy atmosphere earning it the reputation as one of the best restaurants in the country.

The Hardwick is no stranger to critical acclaim. In 2007, The Hardwick was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide, it has retained it every year since and is currently the only restaurant in Wales to hold one. Two years on, The Hardwick was named runner-up for the Best Restaurant in the Observer Food Monthly awards and feted for having the UK’s “Best Use of Local Produce” by the Good Food Guide. Last year, ranking 51st in the top 100 restaurants at the National Restaurant Awards 2009, this “highly recommended” establishment was crowned “Best Dining Pub in Wales” (Good Pub Guide 2010).

Known for its mighty reputation as an outstanding place to eat and drink, Terry’s restaurant was expanded in time for this year’s Abergavenny Food Festival to offer visitors an astounding place to stay. The result is a gastronomic hideaway in the heart of Wales’ lush, verdant hills with 8 contemporary bedrooms, combining elegant, understated design with Welsh charm. The ultimate gourmet getaway with state-of-the-art comfort.

FACTS:
Reservations number: 01873 854220

Address: The Hardwick
Old Raglan Road
Abergavenny
Monmouthshire
Wales
NP7 9AA

Email: info@thehardwick.co.uk
Website: www.thehardwick.co.uk


About the AA Hospitality Awards
Winners are selected in recognition of their excellence and success within their chosen market, but they must also have shown a significant improvement in their services and facilities in the preceding 12-18 months. Achieving an award puts an establishment at the pinnacle of the hospitality industry.

For more information on the AA Hospitality Awards please refer to their website;
aahospitalityawards.com/hospitality.php


About Stephen Terry
Chef- proprietor Stephen Terry has a great pedigree. From starting off his career with Marco Pierre White to achieving a Michelin star (for the second time) at The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny, Stephen’s talents have recently been witnessed on TV courtesy of The Great British Menu. Stephen’s arrival at The Hardwick has been a long and interesting journey.

After training with Marco at his first restaurant, Harvey’s, Stephen went to Le Gavroche where his introduction to classic French cooking became an integral part of the foundation of his philosophy to cooking. His next stop was Scotland as Sous Chef at The Breaval Old Mill, followed by a journey back to London where he opened The Canteen in Chelsea Harbour for Marco and Michael Caine and was awarded his first Michelin star, at the age of 25.

After two years at The Canteen, it was time for a sabbatical and France beckoned. Following six months in the South of France at a one star Relais chateau Le Roches, Stephen spent a further successful six months at Parisian two star Michelin L’Arpege led by inspirational Chef Alain Passard, eventually leaving to take up an offer from Oliver Peyton to be head Chef at his new restaurant, Coast in Mayfair, London – still remembered as one of the most cutting edge restaurants of the late nineties.

After Coast, Stephen travelled a little, taking in Australia and parts of North America and was then approached by Francesco Taruschio to purchase The Walnut Tree Inn. In 2002, a year after opening, Stephen won a Michelin star. Two years later, he returned to London to a position as Head Chef consultant at Cecconis, the legendary Italian restaurant in Mayfair that was in need of a little inspiration. From Cecconis it was on to another consultancy at The Pear Tree Inn, Whitley, Wiltshire, which was then awarded Best Pub in England by the AA Guide in 2005. It was whilst commuting from home in South Wales that The Horse & Jockey Pub came on the market. With a new lease of life and the help and support of friends and family, The Hardwick was born within four weeks of purchase.


Images available upon request
For further information on The Hardwick, please contact Sarah Canet
E: sarah@spoon-pr.com
T: +44 (0)20 7610 9821