A FORMER Welsh Restaurant of the Year run by celebrity chef Stephen Terry could become a care home.

The Hardwick on the Old Raglan Road, once part-owned by Gordon Ramsey’s best man, shut up shop in October 2023 after 18 years of developing a reputation as one of the nation’s best eateries.

It closed after Terry, who trained under Marco Pierre White and catered for Barack Obama and other world leaders at the 2014 NATO summit at Celtic Manor, split from his wife and business partner in the wake of their financial administrator stealing £150,000 from the restaurant.

A regular on BBC’s Great British Menu, who recently appeared on James Martin’s Saturday Morning, he announced the news on social media while thanking all his loyal staff and customers.

Stephen Terry, far right, next to James Martin, and other guests on the latter's Saturday Kitchen show.
Stephen Terry, far right, next to James Martin, and other guests on the latter's Saturday Kitchen show. (Stepen Terry/James Martin's Saturday Kitchen)

Terry added: “It’s been emotional. Onwards and upwards.”

The building has lain empty for nearly three years, after a plan by Newport-based St David's Hospice Care to develop it as a day hospice was pulled in 2024.

Two years later and MCC’s planning committee will soon meet to discuss plans by Boardman Planning Ltd to change its use from a former public house/restaurant to a residential care home.

A document contained within the application states, "The proposed care home would provide residential accommodation and associated care and support for up to 10 adult residents.

“The proposal would secure the beneficial reuse of the substantial existing building, which has remained vacant since the former hospitality business ceased trading on 1 October 2023."

A mile from Abergavenny, the application says “it occupies an isolated rural location outside any established settlement” and was “a destination public house and restaurant”, formerly The Horse and Jockey pub before becoming the Hardwick.

"There is no immediately surrounding village or residential population which depends upon the premises as a day-to-day meeting place or accessible local facility. Customers generally needed to travel by car to reach the premises when it was operational.”