Glyn Davies (pictured), Montgomeryshire’s Conservative MP has written to The Checkers restaurant in Montgomery to congratulate the chef, Stéphane Borie on being awarded a Michelin star. The Checkers is the only new entry into the Michelin Guide this year, and it joins just 3 other restaurants, The Walnut Tree, near Abergavenny, Tyddyn Llan, near Denbigh, and the Crown at Whitebrook in Monmouthshire.
Commenting of the Michelin star award, Glyn Davies said;
“The award of a Michelin star to the Checkers is wonderful news for Stéphane Borie, the chef and for the town of Montgomery. It is also wonderful news for the whole of Montgomeryshire, putting the area on the gastronomic map of Wales. It’s almost incredible that this award should have been granted so soon after the Checkers has opened. The restaurant advertises as being run by a ‘Frenchman and the Farmer’s Daughters’ – and the three of them must be very proud of what they have already achieved”.
“There are only 4 Michelin star restaurants in Wales, and the Checkers is the only newcomer for 2012 – which indicates how much of an achievement it is, Just as people from all over the UK wait months to visit the Waterside at Bray, where Stéphane developed his skills, visitors will be wanting to visit Montgomery from all over Britain. The Checkers success is a great boost to Mid Wales tourism”.
“The only downside for me is that it will become much more difficult to secure a table at the Checkers. Its a local restaurant where we like to eat, but it won’t be so easy to arrange when the rest of the world wants to eat there as well!”.