A TOP Gwent chef helped pupils launch their new school cafe.

Stephen Terry, who runs the Hardwick in Abergavenny, was at Crownbridge Special School to open the new cafe, called Caffi Goron (Crown Cafe in Welsh).

The cafe is based at the school on Turnpike Road and will be run by the pupils for pupils, staff and visitors.

The group of 39 pupils, aged between 14 and 19 years old, will run the cafe as a business and each take a job role.

Jobs range from planning the cafe’s menu, designing posters to advertise what will be for sale, choosing the background music, serving the customers and preparing the food.

The pupils were all interviewed and were excited to welcome Mr Terry to cut the ribbon at the opening yesterday.

In October 2013, Mr Terry’s restaurant the Hardwick was named best restaurant in Wales for the second year running by the National Restaurant Awards.

Leading the project at Crownbridge School was assistant head teacher, Sally Webster, who, after speaking to pupils, realised that spending time in coffee shops was a favourite pass time of theirs.

She said: “The cafe means that pupil’s can gain experience of operating a business and working in a cafe environment, with pupils taking up a variety of roles from front of house to in the kitchen.

“The launch event was a success and the pupils are excited to be a part of the project and although some tasks, such as picking the music, may seem small, every role is important to the cafe’s operation.”

Also at the event was Dynamo Project Role Model, Trevor Palmer who works to create employment opportunities for disabled people, and who helped to draw up the business plan.

The project was started following a £1,000 donation from Cwmbran Vale Rotary Club.

The cafe will sell bacon rolls, salads, paninis, wraps, cakes and refreshments with pupils conducting research to find out what is wanted by customers.