A TOP chef from Newport has been crowned the inaugural South Wales Chef of the Year.

Michael Bates, 40, from Cotswold Close, Newport, head chef at the Celtic Manor Resort, beat off the stiff challenges of seven other chefs including that of Mark Turton from the Crown at Whitebrook, near Monmouth, who came second.

Mr Bates, who decided to become a chef at 16 because "I really wanted to do something creative", attended Newport College where he did his apprenticeship in cookery, and was given his first break by the Hilton Group.

After working in their hotels in Newport and Bath for 12 years he became a teacher and lecturer at the University of Wales Institute College, Cardiff.

He was poached back into the kitchen full-time six years ago by then-head chef of the Celtic Manor Hotel, Trefor Jones.

Mr Bates, also winner of this year's European Spa Chef of the Year, said: "One of the reasons I love my job so much is because you do something different every day.

"Food is like fashion in a way because certain food becomes fashionable and there is so much change.

"There are days like in any job where you do things you don't like but winning this competition was great - I'm delighted."

He is married to Alison and the couple have a son Ryan, 18, and daughter Hannah, 17.

Mark Turton, 33, head chef of the Crown at Whitebrook, said: "I am very pleased to have come second because I was delighted to have made the last eight."

Originally from Barnsley in Yorkshire, he is now living in Penallt and is the father of two daughters, Meagan, five, and Abigail, four.

He said: "It also confirms the good work we've been doing at the Crown with good quality, modern British cuisine."

Both chefs are now looking forward to their next head-to-head at the Welsh Chef of the Year competition on St David's Day next year which is to due to take place at a venue in North Wales.