Bryn Williams

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Bryn Dwyfor Williams
Born (1977-06-06) 6 June 1977 (age 48)
Denbigh, Clwyd, Wales
Education Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
Marco Pierre White
Michel Roux Jr
Culinary career
Cooking styleModern British and European
Current restaurant(s)
  • Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias (Colwyn Bay), Touring Club (Penarth), The Cambrian (Swiss Alps).
Previous restaurant(s)
  • Odette's (Primrose Hill)

Bryn Williams (born 6 June 1977) is a chef originally from Denbigh, Wales. He is the head chef and sole proprietor of Odette's Restaurant, Primrose Hill, London. [1]

Contents

He is notable for his success in a competition to cook the fish course for the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations on the television programme Great British Menu as a sous-chef. [2] He is now widely regarded as one of Wales' best chefs and one of Britain's new crop of "celebrity" chefs. [3] In June 2015 he opened his bistro, Bryn@Porth Eirias, on the seashore in the north Wales town of Colwyn Bay.

Biography

Bryn Dwyfor Williams was born and raised into a farming family near Denbigh, Wales, with his brothers Gareth and Siôn. [4] [5] His father Eifion, a mechanic, is one of seven children, four of whom became farmers. [4] [6] Gwenda, his mother, is a doctor's receptionist. [6] He received all his education through the medium of Welsh before moving to further education. He attended Ysgol Gynradd Twm o'r Nant, Denbigh (Primary) [6] and Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St Asaph (Secondary). Williams lived in Denbigh until he was 18, then moved to London.

Bryn was Chef Patron of Odette’s in Primrose Hill, London, from 2008 until May 2024, when he sold the restaurant to explore new ventures [3]

Early years

Williams's interest in food began as a young child during a primary school visit to a bakery in Denbigh. He later worked at the same bakery as a teenager on Saturday mornings. He also developed a respect for food whilst growing vegetables, fishing and shooting for game on his uncle's farm in his youth. [3]

After leaving high school at the age of 16, he attended Coleg Llandrillo Cymru – studying catering. In 2009, Williams was appointed Skills Ambassador for the college. [7]

After leaving college and working in Cafe Nicoise in Colwyn Bay, he was encouraged by head chef Carl Swift to take his skills to London. He was taken on by Marco Pierre White at the Criterion.

Professional career

After three years learning his craft under Marco Pierre White at the Criterion, he was sous chef under the tutelage of another culinary legend, Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche for a further three years. [8] In 2001 he had an opportunity to experience European cuisine at first hand, working at the Patisserie Millet in Paris, which is also where the Roux family honed their skills. In the same year, he went on to work at Hotel Negresco, a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Nice.

Back in Britain, Williams moved to the Michelin-starred Orrery Restaurant on Marylebone High Street in London, working there for four years under the tutelage of head chef André Garrett. Whilst working at the Orrery he competed for the Roux Scholarship, having been encouraged to participate by Garrett who was himself a previous winner of the prestigious award. Williams finished second overall that year. [9]

Odette's

Bryn initially became head chef off Odette's after his Great British Menu win in 2006, then acquired the restaurant outright in October 2008, a restaurant in Primrose Hill. [10] He expanded the restaurant in 2014, adding covers, a private dining area, and a chef’s table, and earned three AA Rosettes by upholding a consistent standard of innovation and quality.

In May 2024, he sold Odette’s to redirect his focus toward his ventures in Wales and abroad [11]

Bryn@Porth Eirias

It was announced on 9 September 2013 that Bryn Williams was to open a bistro at a water sports centre on Colwyn Bay promenade. The announcement was made at the official opening of Porth Eirias by First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones. The bistro opened in June 2015, on Colwyn Bay’s promenade, combining seafood and local produce in a casual, scenic setting. [12] [13]

The venue has since been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its quality and value [14]

Touring Club

Touring Club opened in Penarth, Wales in June 2023, this small-plates restaurant earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand as well . [15] [13]

The Cambrian

Opened in 2020 at the Cambrian 'Adelboden' hotel in the Swiss Alps, marking Bryn’s expansion into international hospitality [16]

Gorsedd y Beirdd (Gorsedd of Bards)

Williams was honoured by the Gorsedd of the Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales 2013 festival in his home town of Denbigh, by being chosen a new member of the Eisteddford Druidic Order. [17]

Media

Television appearances

In 2006, he was a contestant on BBC Two's Great British Menu . Williams interviewed his grandmother about dishes she used to eat as a child before settling on a menu. [18] He beat Angela Hartnett in the regional round, and went on to win the public's vote to cook his fish course of 'Turbot with Oxtail' at Queen Elizabeth's 80th-birthday banquet at Mansion House. He retained his crown when he beat Matt Tebbutt in 2007. He has since become a familiar face on Saturday Kitchen , also making appearances on Something for the Weekend and Market Kitchen .

Williams's first language is Welsh, and he has appeared in several programmes on the Welsh-language television channel, S4C. He was one of three judges on the very popular Welsh-language cooking competition programme Chez / Casa Dudley; the third series started in Autumn 2008.

A six-part series of Cegin Bryn (Bryn's Kitchen) started on S4C in March 2012. [19] The programme is based on his cookbook Bryn's Kitchen and features six key ingredients, cooked in three different ways whilst also tracking their journey from source to plate. The second series of Cegin Bryn quickly followed in January 2013.

Williams cooked live every day in the GMTV kitchen with Myleene Klass during the last week of its 17 years as a breakfast television broadcaster on ITV. GMTV came to an end on 3 September 2010.

Radio appearances

On 21 March 2010, Williams appeared on Wales on the Menu on BBC Radio Wales, where food critic Simon Wright challenged the Welsh public to attempt to get their dish on Bryn Williams' top London menu. Williams was impressed enough by 23-year-old student Tom Watts Jones and his complex dish of self-caught Welsh rabbit that he offered him a permanent job as a commis chef. [20]

Cookbooks

Williams published his first book, Bryn's Kitchen, in March 2011. His second book, For The Love of Veg, was published in October 2013. His Welsh language cookbook, Tir a Môr, was published in October 2015. [21]

Patronage

Williams is a Patron of Gwledd Conwy Feast, [22] which is Wales' second-largest food festival with around 25,000 visitors each year.

Cardiff Blues, Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby player Martyn Williams appointed Bryn as one of the 7 Patrons of his Spirit of Wales testimonial year in 2010, to help raise money for vulnerable children and cancer victims. Other Patrons include Ian Woosnam, Ioan Gruffudd and James Dean Bradfield. [23]

Active in mentoring: launched the Bryn Williams Ambassador Programme at Coleg Llandrillo to support hospitality students with mentoring and work‑experience opportunities [24] [25]

Also launched a Bryn Williams Academy at Coleg Cambria—offering students hands-on training across his restaurants [26]

Personal life

He married Sharleen Spiteri, the frontwoman of Scottish band Texas, in September 2018 at the 15th-century church of St. Tyrnog in Llandyrnog, North Wales. [27] The pair have become something of a celebrity couple in their own right. In 2021, they appeared on motoring podcast Fuelling Around discussing their affection for cars and their careers. [28]

References

  1. "Bryn Williams becomes chef-proprietor of Odette's - 01 October 2008 - CatererSearch". Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  2. "Chef's royal fish dish wins vote". BBC. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bryn Williams - Great British Chefs". www.greatbritishchefs.com. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Loving the simple life - Chef Bryn Williams". WalesOnline. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  5. "Brenhines, Bryn a Bwyd". BBC. June 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Darren Devine (11 February 2009). "How top Welsh chef rose to fame thanks to bakery visit". WalesOnline . Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  7. "BBC - Chef biographies - V". 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  8. "The Roux Scholarship". Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  9. "Londoner's Diary | Evening Standard". 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  10. "Bryn Williams - Great British Chefs". www.greatbritishchefs.com. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  11. "Top chef to open bistro on promenade". BBC News.
  12. 1 2 "Award-winning Welsh chef Bryn Williams to launch landmark restaurant with North Wales' Theatr Clwyd". Theatr Clwyd. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  13. Hospitality, Tourism & (14 May 2024). "Michelin Award-Winning Chef to Open North Wales Restaurant". Business News Wales. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  14. Williams, Kathryn (15 June 2023). "Review of Bryn Williams' Touring Club in Penarth that's set to be a favourite". Walesonline.co.uk.
  15. "Bryn Williams 'ddim cweit yn hapus eto' i symud yn ôl i Gymru". Cambrian-news.co.uk. 28 December 2023.
  16. "National Eisteddfod to honour Bryn Williams and Malcolm Allen in Gorsedd of Bards". Walesonline.co.uk. 22 May 2013.
  17. "The best of British". The Guardian . 26 February 2006. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  18. "Cegin Bryn - S4C". 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  19. "Main dish of self-caught rabbit wins passionate young student a place at top restaurant". Walesonline.co.uk. 18 March 2010.
  20. Crump, Eryl (28 October 2015). "Chef Bryn Williams launches his latest book at Porth Eirias in Colwyn Bay". Dailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  21. "North Wales News - Latest news, pictures, video - North Wales Live". Dailypost.co.uk.
  22. "Martyn Williams Testimonial Year 2010 » Martyn Williams Testimonial Year 2010". Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  23. "Bryn Williams and Coleg Llandrillo launch Ambassador Programme to…". Grŵp Llandrillo Menai. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  24. "Bryn Williams to mentor young hospitality talent in ambassador programme at Coleg Llandrillo". InYourArea.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  25. Gregory, Rhys (25 October 2018). "Celebrity chef Bryn Williams launches food academy at Coleg Cambria" . Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  26. Leaver, Joel (21 September 2018). "Stunning unseen photos of Bryn Williams and Sharleen Spiteri's wedding all taken by an 11 year-old". Daily Post .
  27. "Fuelling Around podcast: Sharleen Spiteri and Bryn Williams' love of life, work and cars". 25 November 2021.