Clink charity targets Welsh site for second prison restaurant

The Clink Charity has submitted a planning application to build a second Clink Restaurant in conjunction with HMP Cardiff. If planning permission is granted, the restaurant will be built within the grounds of the prison but outside the main walls and will be complete by the end of the year. The income generated from the restaurant will go towards the running and operating costs of the restaurant which will be supplemented by donations. The first Clink Restaurant was opened in May 2009, the first commercial restaurant to be built inside a working British prison. Devised by chef Alberto Crisci MBE, with great support from Peter Dawson, governor of HMP High Down and founder Clink Charity trustees Kevin McGrath and Kate Quigley-Ruby, The Clink has gone on to gain the support of high profile chefs and restaurateurs in the hospitality industry such as Antonio Carluccio and Giorgio Locatelli. Chris Moore, chief executive of The Clink Charity said: "The aim is to reduce re-offending rates of ex-offenders by training and placing graduates upon their release into the hospitality industry. "The charity therefore represents a genuine opportunity for change, offering prisoners the chance to gain food preparation, food service and cleaning qualifications as well as experience within an exciting, operational business and in-depth guidance to find full-time employment within the hospitality industry upon release. "We currently operate the Clink Restaurant in collaboration with HMP High Down, the Prison Service and the Ministry of Justice and we have been focused on opportunities to develop the clink concept".