Wales Food & Drink Awards - the winners

The seasonal, modern, unfussy food served up by head chef Steve Robbins at Bistro Prego proved a big hit with Metro readers, who loved the Italian influence and simple approach. Glorious saddle of hare with braised red cabbage, chestnuts and cranberries; fragrant tagliolini with crab, chilli, parsley and cherry tomatoes; griddled squid with a salad of chickpeas, chilli and mint; home-cured bresaola with rocket and Parmesan; rare Herefordshire rib-eye; grappa panacotta; and marsala semifreddo were all on the menu when we paid a visit nearly a year ago.

Since then Prego has gone from strength to strength. New front of house manager Lynnette Bourgaize keeps a watchful eye on service in the laid-back dining room; eight coolly contemporary ensuite bedrooms opened in March - the Welsh Tourist Board recently upped Prego's accommodation rating from two to three stars - and local hero Francho Taruschio is named as a consultant.

'It's been a fantastic year, despite the terrible weather this summer' says Robbins. 'It's nice to win awards and get rosettes, but all we really want is to make our customers happy and keep serving good food.'

7 Church Street, Monmouth. Tel: 01600 712600. www.pregomonmouth.co.uk