SECOND COURSE
Chef is back after Blas closure
A CHEF whose restaurant went bust last month owing £168,000 to the taxman will now head a new eatery at Lord Snowdon’s former home.
Blas, on Hole in The Wall Street, Caernarfon, shut without warning at the end of March, with a number of job losses.
The restaurant, which was in the Michelin Guide and North Wales’ Restaurant of the Year in 2015, was run by head chef Daniel ap Geraint and wife Mari, of Y Felinheli, Gwynedd.
Scores of customers who bought vouchers for the restaurant were left out of pocket by the closure.
But they will now be able to redeem them at the new restaurant at Plas Dinas country house, Bontnewydd, Gwynedd.
Posting this week on Facebook, the couple said they had “exciting news” with Dan appointed head chef of the venue, called The Gun Room, at the former country home which has been transformed into a five-star hotel by Neil Baines and Marco Soares.
The couple said: “He (Mr ap Geraint) is looking forward to launching the new restaurant in this spectacular venue, and anyone with outstanding vouchers for Blas but still haven’t received your letter – the voucher will be fully transferable.”
Mr ap Geraint told our sister paper the Daily Post that he was looking forward to the new challenge, lenge, but did not want to talk about what had happened at Blas, which was formallyly wound up at the High h Court this week.
He said: “I am working for Plas Dinas. This is all new and we will be honouring the Blas vouchers. Letters with new vouchers have been sent out to o everybody.
“It will be the same kind of style as Blas – good food using fresh, local food.” Plas Dinas owner Neil Baines said the new restaurant would be opening on Saturday, June 3. Mr Baines said: “We are thrilled to welcome Dan to our team. “While he may have faced his own challenges at Blas, one cannot doubt his ability in the kitchen and we are confident that The Gun Room will become one of the ‘go to’ restaurants in North Wa Wales. “As a gesture of good faith to th the local community and to encourage diners to try the new restaurant, ra Plas Dinas will honour any outstanding gift vouchers issued by Blas Caernarfon, n valid for a p period of 12 months from June 2017.”
He said the vouchers were worth “a good couple of thousands of pounds” and would be deducted from diners’ bills.
Appointed liquidator Ian Brown, of Parkin S Booth, said Mr ap Geraint’s move to Plas Dinas did not affect Blas, as the vouchers and honouring them were not assets.
Award-winning Plas Dinas was voted one of the top 25 B&B/Inns in the World in the Travellers Choice Awards.
It was the former home of Lord Snowdon – Princess Margaret’s former husband Antony ArmstrongJones, who died in January.
A professional photographer, his title Earl of Snowdon was chosen because of his family associations with an area where his father was a deputy lord lieutenant. He was appointed to the post of Constable of Caernarfon Castle when Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales in 1969.