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The Pickled Radish Bridgend: The Untold Story Of Chef Nick Collins' Rise To CEO Of Clever Chefs

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As of December 2025, the story of The Pickled Radish in Bridgend is less about a single restaurant and more about the enduring culinary legacy of its founder, Chef Nick Collins. The establishment, once a celebrated beacon of modern Welsh cuisine housed within the historic walls of The Laleston Inn, has transitioned from a local dining hotspot into a foundational chapter in the career of one of Wales’s most successful hospitality entrepreneurs. This deep dive explores the restaurant's award-winning reputation, the food that made it famous, and the hugely successful pivot by its pioneering chef into the world of large-scale catering and events. The Pickled Radish was renowned for its commitment to fresh, big-flavoured food and its almost exclusive use of Welsh produce, setting a high bar for fine dining in the Bridgend area. While the original restaurant business at the Wind Street, Laleston location appears to have concluded—with company records indicating a "Dissolved" status for the director—the principles of quality and innovation that defined it are very much alive in Chef Collins’s current, national ventures. This is the definitive look at the restaurant’s history and the exciting new direction of the chef behind the brand.

Chef Nick Collins: From Michelin to MasterChef to CEO

The driving force behind The Pickled Radish brand is the highly accomplished chef and entrepreneur, Nick Collins. His journey is a remarkable case study in how a passion for cooking can evolve into a major business enterprise.
  • Full Name: Nicholas Philip William Collins
  • Role: Founder/Chef of The Pickled Radish Restaurants; Founder and CEO of Clever Chefs and Epic Caterers.
  • Early Career: Spent 17 years in the culinary industry, gaining experience in diverse and prestigious sectors.
  • Notable Experience: Worked in Michelin star kitchens and served as a chef aboard super yachts, demonstrating a mastery of both high-end and demanding culinary environments.
  • Television Appearance: Appeared as a contestant on the popular BBC show MasterChef: The Professionals in 2008.
  • Founding The Pickled Radish: Launched The Pickled Radish, first at The Laleston Inn in Bridgend, and later expanded with a second venue in Llandaff, Cardiff.
  • Current Status: Leads two hugely successful Welsh hospitality companies: Clever Chefs (contract catering) and Epic Caterers (events).
Collins’s extensive background provided the perfect foundation for The Pickled Radish’s success. His experience in high-pressure, quality-focused environments like Michelin-star kitchens and super yachts instilled a relentless pursuit of perfection that was evident in every dish served in Bridgend.

The Pickled Radish Bridgend: A Culinary Legacy

The Pickled Radish quickly became a culinary landmark in the Bridgend area, particularly for those seeking a modern, high-quality dining experience outside of the major cities. It was established in a unique and historically rich location.

The restaurant was situated inside The Laleston Inn, a charming, 700-year-old pub in the village of Laleston, just a few miles west of Bridgend town centre. The inn itself is a Grade II listed building of 16th Century origin, providing a rustic and atmospheric setting that perfectly contrasted with the contemporary flair of Collins's menu. Diners often accessed the restaurant through a less conventional route, sometimes even entering near the kitchen, adding to the unique, behind-the-scenes charm.

The cuisine was consistently described as "excellent," focusing on interesting and generously portioned dishes. The restaurant’s ethos centered around sourcing produce exclusively from Wales, ensuring a fresh and seasonal menu that supported local suppliers. This commitment to Welsh ingredients was a core part of its identity, from its house-made ice cream to its 56-day aged steaks sourced from Llantwit Major, which were hailed by critics as some of the best in the region.

Although the restaurant's tenure in Laleston has passed, its impact on the local dining scene is undeniable. The location at The Laleston Inn remains a sought-after culinary spot, now home to other ventures like The Black Rabbit Laleston, continuing the tradition of quality dining in the historic setting.

The Entrepreneurial Pivot: From Restaurant to Contract Catering Empire

The most current and compelling chapter of the Pickled Radish story is the massive success of Chef Nick Collins's subsequent business ventures. Recognizing the limitations and demands of running a traditional restaurant, Collins pivoted his expertise into the scalable and high-growth sector of contract catering, founding Clever Chefs in 2015.

Clever Chefs is now a hugely successful Welsh hospitality company, alongside its sister company, Epic Caterers. This strategic move allowed Collins to apply his Michelin-level standards and commitment to fresh, quality ingredients across a much wider platform. The company specializes in providing high-quality food solutions for a variety of sectors, including:

  • Contract Catering: Offering sophisticated and tailored food services for large organizations.
  • Education Sector: Notably, Clever Chefs has gained attention for its work in supplying nutritious and high-quality school dinners, a mission Collins has publicly defended and championed.
  • Corporate Events: Providing top-tier catering for business meetings and functions.
  • Weddings and Private Events: Through Epic Caterers, they manage high-end event catering, with Nick Collins himself remaining hands-on, often cooking at these weddings and events.

The transition from a small, award-winning restaurant to a multi-faceted catering empire demonstrates Collins’s entrepreneurial acumen. He took the core principles of The Pickled Radish—using the best ingredients, cooking everything from scratch, and focusing on big flavours—and scaled them up. This has cemented his position not just as a talented chef, but as a significant figure in the wider Welsh hospitality industry. The success of Clever Chefs showcases how the spirit of the original Bridgend restaurant lives on, influencing thousands of meals a day across South Wales and beyond.

Entities such as Welsh produce, MasterChef, super yachts, Laleston, Llantwit Major, MasterChef: The Professionals, Michelin star kitchens, and contract catering all form key parts of this incredible narrative, linking the local success of The Pickled Radish to a national business triumph.

The Enduring Influence on Welsh Dining

While the physical location of The Pickled Radish in Bridgend may be a cherished memory for local foodies, its influence is still palpable. The restaurant paved the way for modern, ingredient-focused dining in the area, proving that a high-quality, contemporary concept could thrive in a more rustic, historic setting like The Laleston Inn.

The brand’s legacy is now intrinsically tied to the ongoing success of Chef Nick Collins. His journey serves as an inspiration to other Welsh chefs and entrepreneurs, demonstrating that a strong culinary foundation, honed in the demanding environments of fine dining and MasterChef, can be the launchpad for a much larger commercial enterprise. The values of The Pickled Radish—quality, freshness, and a commitment to local sourcing—are now the bedrock of a multi-million-pound contract catering business, ensuring that the taste of award-winning Welsh cooking reaches a massive audience every single day. The story is a testament to the power of a successful business pivot in the ever-evolving world of hospitality.

The Pickled Radish Bridgend: The Untold Story of Chef Nick Collins' Rise to CEO of Clever Chefs
the pickled radish bridgend
the pickled radish bridgend

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