Bryn Williams

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.

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.

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.

He shot to fame as merely a sous chef in 2006 by beating established and well-known chefs to cook the fish course for the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations on the television programme Great British Menu.

He is now widely regarded as one of Wales' best chefs and one of Britain's new crop of "celebrity" chefs.

Following his success on the Great British Menu television series in 2006, Williams was offered the head chef's position at Odette's, a restaurant in Primrose Hill.

The restaurant had recently undergone an expensive refurbishment following its purchase by Vince Power, who was looking for the right name to head-up his latest culinary venture.

In 2006, he was a contestant on BBC Two's Great British Menu, impressing the judges throughout the stages of the competition.

Williams interviewed his grandmother about dishes she used to eat as a child before settling on a menu.

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.

He bought out the owner and became sole chef-proprietor of Odette's on 1 October 2008.

Reviews under Williams have been very good.

In 2009 Williams was appointed Skills Ambassador for the college.

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.

After 3 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.

It was announced on 9 September 2013 that Bryn Williams was to open a bistro at a multi-million pounds 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.

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.

In June 2015 he opened his new bistro, Bryn@Porth Eirias, on the sea shore in the north Wales town of Colwyn Bay.

Bryn Dwyfor Williams was born and raised into a farming family near Denbigh, Wales, with his brothers Gareth and Siôn.

His father Eifion, a mechanic, is one of seven children, four of whom became farmers.

Gwenda, his mother, is a doctor's receptionist.

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) and Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St Asaph (Secondary).

Williams lived in Denbigh until he was 18, then moved to London.

Williams's interest in food began as a young child during a primary school visit to a bakery in Denbigh.

Seeing the individual ingredients turned into bread sparked an interest in food and its processes that would stay with him.

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 as a youngster.

After leaving high school at the age of 16 he attended Coleg Llandrillo Cymru – studying catering.

The bistro opened in June 2015.

Touring Club opened in Penarth, Wales in June 2023.

Williams is the Chef Patron at 'The Cambrian Adelboden' in the Swiss Alps.