A MICHELIN-starred chef is returning to the Celtic Manor to lead a new fine dining restaurant - years after he worked in the kitchen aged 18.

Newport's Celtic Manor Resort is launching a new fine dining restaurant which is set to open on Saturday, February 13.

The restaurant, called Epicure by Richard Davies, will open on the same spot as the resort's former fine dining option, Terry M. Chef Richard Davies will be taking charge of the restaurant.

Mr Davies, who spent three years at the Gordon Ramsay restaurant in London before winning Michelin stars as the head chef at restaurants in Bath and West Sussex, said "it feels like coming home".

Chef Mr Davies said: “I'm excited about the challenge of creating and developing a new fine dining experience for Celtic Manor.

“I like to choose the best quality ingredients –local where possible – and use modern techniques to create a memorable and exciting dining experience for guests.

“It’s a beautiful dining room and Celtic Manor is a stunning hotel.

“I know I’m coming back to the best hotel in Wales and now I want to give it the best restaurant in Wales.

“When I first worked here, Celtic Manor was the closest thing you could find to a London restaurant kitchen in South Wales and I learnt a lot very quickly.

“It’s great to be back here and back in Wales with this fantastic opportunity. We hope to attain as many of the highest accolades for the restaurant as we possibly can.”

Mr Davies has represented Wales three times on BBC’s popular culinary show ‘Great British Menu’ and made it all the way to the banquet in 2013 with his winning dessert ‘strawberries and cream’, which was served at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of Comic Relief. The dish has been adapted for his brand new menu at Epicure by Richard Davies.