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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