A GWENT shop was the flavour of the year at an special awards ceremony in London. The Salt and Pepper cookware shop in Monnow Street, Monmouth, had all the right ingredients to win best newcomer in the national Excellence in Housewares Awards.

Shop owner Brenda Elsmore, who received the award at the Lancaster Hotel said: "It was a very glitzy affair but I didn't have to make an acceptance speech."

Mrs Elsmore opened the shop more than a year ago.

She said: "The response from the people of Monmouth and the surrounding area has been fantastic and the business has experienced phenomenal success in it's first year. "