New head chef appointed for Rhyl’s 1891 restaurant

A taste of Rhyl will very much be on the menu at the resort’s new flagship restaurant thanks to its newly appointed head chef.

Aaron Broster, who has worked under the Vale of Clwyd’s celebrity chef Bryn Williams, will take the top job at 1891 which opens in December at Rhyl’s revamped Pavilion Theatre.

Aaron, 53, who lives in Denbigh, has worked at a host of top restaurants, most recently at Bryn Williams’ Porth Eirias in Colwyn Bay and Brookhouse Mill in Denbigh.

The former Ysgol Glan Clwyd pupil said: “I’m really excited to have been appointed head chef. This is a great opportunity.

“I’m looking to use local produce for the menu, within a 30-mile radius of Rhyl and definitely from North Wales. As a chef local produce is better and it helps support the great local businesses we have here in the county.

“I’d like to get Rhyl on the menu, there will be a ‘Rhyl Rock’ dessert, some of the dishes will be named after Rhyl landmarks and the steak will be called ‘The Cut’.

“There will be seaside influences and theatre influences on the menu. It is going to be fine dining, but open to everyone.”

Named after the year the original Pavilion first opened, 1891 will offer high-quality food and drink in a stylish, elegant environment and will be open to theatre-goers, residents and visitors.

Mr Broster, who has worked as a chef for 27 years, has also previously worked at the Chester Grosvenor, the Brighton Metropole Hotel and Portmeirion.

He said: “Working with Bryn has been great. I have learnt a lot. I’m pleased I worked there and now is the time to take the next step.

“1891 is going to be a fantastic restaurant. It looks amazing and I don’t think you’ll get better views in North Wales, you can see right along the coast. It is going to be an incredible experience and the food will match.

“This is going to be something great for Rhyl, along with the wider regeneration. It is raising the town up a level. It is an up and coming place.”

The Pavilion’s bar areas are also being refurbished as part of the redevelopment as well as the repainting and recreating of the façade of the main building and the creation of a new entrance foyer.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire, said: “I’d like to congratulate Aaron on his new role. It is fantastic to get such an experienced and talented chef for 1891.

“The restaurant will be a real asset to the town. The redevelopment of the Pavilion Theatre is part of the wider work in Rhyl which will increase footfall in the town and create jobs that will boost the local economy.”