Michelin guide Powys restaurant wins at Slow Food Awards

Chapters in Hay on Wye won the award for Best Restaurant/Food Eatery in Wales at this year’s Slow food awards.

The slow food movement is a grassroots worldwide movement “to promote sustainable food and local producers” and “has a simple mission – Good, Clean and Fair Food for all”.

This is the latest accolade bestowed on the celebrated restaurant run by Chef Mark McHugo and Charmaine Blatchford, having previously picked up a highly prestigious Michelin Green Star.

The Green Star is only awarded annually and highlights “true role models, designing an alternative vision of gastronomy that is not only delicious but also virtuous”.

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The Michelin guide “those places that distinguish themselves on account of their bold, sincere and highly committed approach to sustainable gastronomy” by “proposing a dining experience that has eco-responsibility at its core”.

This ethos is core to the restaurant and has now been recognised 1for the second year in a row by the movement that the restaurant has long championed.

“We have supported the Slow Food movement for several years now; as business supporter, part of the Slow Food Cooks Alliance and by hosting events,” said Charmaine. “Slow Food is a global, grassroots organisation with members around the world. An international movement to promote good, clean, fair food for everyone which is also reflected in what we do at Chapters and is evident on the menus that we serve.

“We are thrilled to win the award which is based on a public vote and want to thank each and every person for taking time out of their day to vote for Chapters.

Along with the Michelin Green Star that they won in 2022 and retained in 2023 it really is something for the team to be proud of.”

It was part of a successful night for Hay-on-Wye with three businesses winning in the Welsh category, with Hay Market picking up the award for best market and Hay Deli picking up the award for Best Deli or Grocer – highlighting the towns role in the Slow Food movement.

Chapters have said that they will be adapting its set up, menu style and offering in 2024, “partly as a reaction to the cost of living crisis but mainly to make it more accessible to everyone with a lower price point” whilst “giving people the chance to make use of the space and great wine list on a Saturday day-time”.