A once-popular local restaurant run by a Michelin-star chef could become a care home.

The Hardwick, once owned by TV chef Stephen Terry, shut up shop in October 2023 after 18 years of developing a reputation as one of the area’s best eateries.

Terry, who trained under Marco Pierre White, made the decision after his financial administrator stole £150,000 from the restaurant.

Terry, who was a regular on BBC’s Great British Menu, announced the news on social media while thanking all his loyal staff and customers.

Terry added, “It’s been emotional. Onwards and upwards.”

The building on the Old Raglan Road has since laid empty for nearly three years. There was a plan by Newport-based St David's Hospice Care to develop it as a day hospice, but they aborted their plans in 2024.

Two years later and MCC’s planning committee will soon meet to discuss plans by Boardman Planning Ltd to change its use from a former public house/restaurant to a residential care home.

A document contained within the application states, "The proposed care home would provide residential accommodation and associated care and support for up to 10 adult residents. The proposal would secure the beneficial reuse of the substantial existing building, which has remained vacant since the former hospitality business ceased trading on 1 October 2023."

It also states, "The Hardwick occupies an isolated rural location outside any established settlement. Its historic business model was principally that of a destination public house and restaurant, with customers travelling to the premises from a geographically dispersed catchment.

"There is no immediately surrounding village or residential population which depends upon the premises as a day-to-day meeting place or accessible local facility. Customers generally needed to travel by car to reach the premises when it was operational.

"This does not mean that the former business had no social or community value. It does, however, distinguish the premises from the type of locally accessible facility serving a town or village community for which the strongest justification for policy protection would ordinarily arise.”