James Sommerin

Who is James Sommerin?

James Sommerin is a Michelin-starred Welsh chef.

Born in Caerleon, Sommerin baked with his grandmother on Saturdays as a child. Determined to become a chef, his father secured him his first Saturday job in an Italian restaurant in the hope of dissuading his son from getting into the industry, but the job only served to convince Sommerin of his vocation.

After school he undertook formal cookery training, and then worked in a local hotel, before heading to the Farleyer House Hotel in Aberfeldy, Scotland. There he trained further under Richard Lyth, who gave him his under-stated French style.

Returning to Wales to be closer to his family, Sommerin joined The Crown at Whitebrook in Monmouthshire in 2000 as Sous Chef. In December 2003 he became Head Chef, which under his control gained a Michelin star in April 2007.

Having been selected as one of the Chefs to Watch in 2008 by The Guardian, Sommerin represented Wales in the 2009 final of the BBC's Great British Menu, having beaten Stephen Terry.

Married to Louise, the couple live in Pontypool and have two daughters.

In April 2013, Sommerin announced that he was going to open a new restaurant at Beachcliff in Penarth.