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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Angharad Thomas

The bistro that's just been named best restaurant in Wales

A Bridgend restaurant which opened in the middle of the Covid pandemic has been named the best in Wales. Morgans Bistro and Cocktail Bar beat the rest of the competition at the Best of Welsh Business Awards 2023 to be crowned the top restaurant in the country.

The French restaurant - on Caroline Street - launched in August 2020 and it was quick to make its mark. Earlier this year, the bistro was highly commended at the Business Growth Awards 2023.

Speaking after the latest awards - which were held on March 13 at Cardiff's Holland House Hotel - Adrian Reynolds, director and head chef, said: "As a small, independent restaurant, we are overwhelmed to win the awards for best restaurant in Wales 2023, and highly commended food, drink and hospitality.

“We are so proud to be recognised for the hard work and perseverance that our staff have shown since launching the restaurant, especially during a pandemic. It’s such an honour, and we would like to thank our fabulous customers for their continued loyal support and votes.”

Read more: The Welsh town becoming an exciting food hotspot with new cuisines from all over the world

Other nominations in the best restaurant category included runners up Butterflies Bar and Kitchen, based in Pontypool, and Rhondda's The Gelli Hotel which came highly commended.

The awards recognised many Welsh businesses across a range of sectors with several Bridgend businesses featuring in the nominations. Beth Daniels Hair Design scooped a highly commended accolade in the hairdresser’s category, and there were nominations for Dean Morgan’s Salon in the best hairdresser's category and Cabo Roche in the best pub of the year, family run business category.

The full winner list of the Welsh Business Awards 2023:

Best Arts & Creative 2023

Winner – Made With Grace

Runner up – Cosy Throws

Highly commended – The Hive

Best Barbers 2023

Winner – Franklynn’s Barbers

Runner up – Les Barbershop

Highly commended – Teague’s Barbers

Best Beauty Business 2023

Winner - Nevaeh's Hair & Beauty

Runner up – Vanity Nails

Highly commended – Aesthetics by Natalie

Best Butcher 2023

Winner – Noel’s Family Butchers

Runner up – Chris Hayman’s Butchers

Highly commended – Trims Town Gate Butchery

Best Café 2023

Winner – Tost Café & Deli

Runner up – The Bank Post Office & Coffee Shop

Highly commended - LOT 11

Best Caterer 2023

Winner – Hancox’s Pies

Runner up – Chef Read Catering

Highly commended - Orla's Cake Boutique & SugarCrush

Best Child Minding & Entertainment 2023

Winner – Clwb Y Ddraig

Runner up – Puddles Sensory Play

Highly commended - Hokey Cokey Events

Best Cleaning Services 2023

Winner – JH Cleaning Services

Runner up – Mabes Guttering

Highly commended - Cerys Cleans

Best Fashion Store 2023

Winner – Jacob's Boutique

Runner up – T'adora Boutique

Highly commended - Bessy Bella Boutique

Best Garage Services 2023

Winner – Thomas Brothers Coity

Runner up – TC Autos

Highly commended - Perry's Vehicle Repairs LTD

Best Hairdresser 2023

Winner – Hair by Beth

Runner up – Salon Forty One

Highly commended – Beth Daniels Hair Designs & Spectrum Hair Artistry

Best Health & Wellbeing 2023

Winner – Risca Chiropractor Wellness Clinic

Runner up – Touch Healing Reflexology and Reiki

Highly commended - Mind Crafted Retreats & The Zen Den

Best Health & Fitness 2023

Winner – Mamauffit

Runner up – Mae - Personal Trainer

Highly commended - Physio Mon

Best Home Improvements 2023

Winner – Futureglaze Windows

Runner up – Taylour Electrical

Highly commended – Libics Improvements

Best Jeweller 2023

Winner – Jaspersparkles Spoon rings

Runner up – Seapig

Highly commended - Andrew Berry Jewellery

Best Locat Convenience Store 2023

Winner – Veg of Evans

Runner up – Castle Farm Shop

Highly commended - The Grapevine

Best Pet Services 2023

Winner – The Sausage Sitter

Runner up – Smoxie Locks Dog Grooming

Highly commended – The Dog House & Berwicks Barking Beauties

Best Performing Arts and Music School 2023

Winner – LRS Vocal and Performing Arts Studio

Runner up – Studio 54

Highly commended – Glamorgan Music School

Best Photography Services 2023

Winner – Steffi Andrews Photography

Runner up – Kath D Photography

Highly commended – Craig Smith Photography

Best Print & Design 2023

Winner – Made with Grace

Runner up – BabyCrafts

Highly commended - Sticky Bandits

Best Pub & Social Club 2023

Winner – The Aber Hotel

Runner up – The Horse & Jockey, Pontypool

Highly commended - The Wyndham Hotel

Best Restaurant Dine In 2023

Winner – Morgans Bistro

Runner up – Butterflies Bar and Kitchen

Highly commended - The Gelli Hotel

Best Takeaway 2023

Winner – Burger Boys Gwent

Runner up – Linda's House Blackwood

Highly commended - Little Steak Hut

Best Tatoo Artist 2023

Winner – Inkabella

Runner up – Pretty Hot & Tattoo'd

Highly commended - Alex B Tattoos

Best Business Specialist 2023

Winner – Piercings by Lisa

Runner up – Extreme Ironing Service

Highly commended - Jones & Son's Property Reporting

Best New Business 2023

Winner – Smoxie Locks Grooming

Runner up – Libics Home Improvements

Highly commended – HD Clean Solutions

Business Professional 2023

Kelly Jones of Salon Fortyone

Most Celebrated Business 2023

Happy Feet Happy Sole

The Brilliance Award 2023

Inkabella

Business Woman of the Year 2023

Bec of Orla's Cake Boutique

Business Man of the Year 2023

Alexandre Hancox of Hancox's Pies

Family Run Business 2023

Butterflies Bar & Kitchen

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