MICHELIN star restaurant chef Andy Beaumont has been appointed executive head chef at Newport’s Mojo The FoodBar which opens next month.

Andy, aged 29, from Abergavenny, previously worked at leading North Wales Michelin star restaurant Tyddn Llan under internationally-renowned head chef and owner Bryan Webb.

Andy has also worked in key roles at Michelin starred and 3 AA rosette restaurants such as The Hamborough, on the Isle of Wight; Lower Slaughter Manor, in the Cotswolds and at Hammet House, Cardigan. Andy also starred in BBC’s Great British Menu D Day 70th memorial programme in 2014.

Cocktails expert Christos Kyriakidis, with experience gained mixing drinks in some of the world’s top bars, has been appointed the restaurant’s bar manager and head of mixology.

Mojo The FoodBar, a ground-breaking fine food and cocktails restaurant at Clarence Place, Newport, opens for the first time on Tuesday, August 11.

Monmouthshire man Andy, born and raised on his family’s farm in Abergavenny, said: “I was attracted to Mojo The FoodBar because of the amazing chance that it offers to cook my own food to a very high standard. I am very excited by the challenge and also to be able to remain here in Wales where we can source some of the very best produce that the UK has to offer.

“I am also extremely excited at being able to get involved in this project, Mojo The FoodBar from its inception and to be able to bring my experience to bear to help it to develop and to grow.”

Andy said: “Newport is a very under rated place. I’ve known the city for many years and it is fair to say that it has had some bad times, but it is definitely on the up. The new Friars Walk shopping centre, which is due to open in November, will transform the city and its shopping and with Mojo, the city will also have another really great place to eat.”

Andy, who regularly helps with farming duties on his parents’ Monmouthshire farm including at busy lambing time, said: “I aim to exceed customers’ expectations and to be able to give them a standard of food and service that they just haven’t seen in Newport in the past which hopefully they will like and want to come back and enjoy on a regular basis.”

Andy is already working to develop a range of fine dining taster menus for the restaurant.

Newport businessman Lewis Lewis and Seng Ming Koh, a former investment banker, founding directors of the Niche Hospitality Group owners of Mojo The FoodBar, said: “We are thrilled at having been able to secure Andy as our executive head chef for Mojo The FoodBar. Andy has a wealth of experience gained over the past decade which he is keen to put into practice at Mojo The Food Bar.

“Andy is brimming over with fantastic ideas for the restaurant. We just can’t wait to get the restaurant open and to present the wonderful menu Andy has developed and the stunning cocktails our really special mixologist, Christos, has devised for our customers.”

The Niche Group estimates it will plough in some £130,000 to create Mojo The FoodBar at the former Rossini’s restaurant site, creating 15 full-time positions and another six part-time jobs.