Jon’s meticulous attention to detail and his combination of  Traditional Welsh flavours has people from all over the UK sampling his fine food.

Voice asked him a few questions to see what makes him tick. Here’s what he had to say:

Why did you decide to become a chef?
I saw the glamorous lifestyle of Marco Pierre White and thought to myself, I want to live like that.

Where did you learn your trade?
Ebbw Vale college, then I got my first professional job at The Lion Hotel, in Gilwern, followed by The Walnut Tree and The Celtic Manor.

What do you love most about cooking?
The diversity of customers’ tastes, and the variety of fantastic local Welsh produce available on our doorstep.

What’s your favourite season for ingredients and why?
Spring as the abundance of the new season’s produce gets the juices flowing.

What’s the one thing in the kitchen you couldn’t live without?
My knives!

What’s your favourite restaurant?
Tom Kerridge’s Hand and Flowers.

What’s your perfect meal?
A good roast beef dinner, which is a popular option here at the Lion.

What’s new on the menu at the Lion for spring?
We’ve got a great local wood pigeon dish coming on the menu, along with a feather blade of beef main course.

What’s the most popular option on the menu?
The Welsh lamb is a firm favourite.

Tell us more about the new tapas menu that you’re introducing?
We’ve decided to move away from your standard afternoon tea, which is why we are going to be offering tapas boards. It will be a selection of three tapas, all served with a matching wine. Hopefully it will still have the same social aspect of afternoon tea.

For anyone who’s never visited The Lion Hotel before, what would you recommend?
I’d recommend trying ourWelsh ales, great local produce and great wine list. It all comes together to give a fantastic overall dining experience.

Why should people visit this May?
Because we have some new and exciting dishes going on the menu, such as the wood pigeon I mentioned, plus some other culinary delights.

The Lion Hotel,
41 Broad Street,
Blaenavon, Gwent,
NP4 9NH.

01495 792516

thelionhotelblaenavon.co.uk

Twitter: @The_Lion_Hotel
Facebook: Lion Hotel and Restaurant