New training Academy for young Welsh chefs to open

The £1.8m investment, which will preserve and restore the Grade 11 listed building, has received a £135,000 grant from Cadw towards the repair and restoration of the fabric of the building and £345,000 from the Assembly Government's Single Investment Fund. Working together on the project includes Robert Williams chairman of WRW Group, restaurateur, food critic and author Simon Wright, together with International rugby stars Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel. Work is due to start on site at the end of the month with a completion date in the spring of 2010. A new extension is to be linked to the main building via an atrium and together will provide a 120 cover restaurant, a bar, lounge bar, kitchen and training facilities, a private dining suite, outside dining area, staff quarters, offices and car parking. It is anticipated approximately 27 jobs will be created. Alun Ffred Jones, minister for Heritage, said: "I'm delighted that Simon Wright and his team have seen the potential of this site, with his track record and passion for quality food and produce, this should be a very interesting and successful chapter in the Pumphouse's history. "The idea of establishing an academy for Welsh young chefs is an exciting development, which will harness and develop the talents which we have here in Wales." The Pumphouse, which controlled the lock gates on the river Lliedi, dates back to 1898 when construction began and it opened in 1903. It closed in 1951 although some of the buildings were used as workshops for a short period in the 70s. Today it is the only remaining industrial heritage of what was once one of the major 19th century ports of the south Wales coast.