1 Michelin Star Chefs: Stephen Stevens, chef proprietor, Sosban & The Old Butchers

The Staff Canteen

Stephen Stevens is the chef-proprietor of the one Michelin starred, Sosban & The Old Butchers in Anglesey.

Anglesey chef Stephen Stevens had originally carved out a career for himself as a plumber before deciding a career in the kitchen.  

Sosban & The Old Butchers

Sosban & The Old Butchers
Sosban & The Old Butchers

Trinity House, 1 High St, Menai Bridge LL59 5EE

Website: https://sosbanandtheoldbutchers.com/

Tel: 01248 208131
Email: [email protected]

Opening hours: Thursday- Saturday 7pm -12am 

Head chef: Stephen Stevens
Restaurant manager: Bethan Stevens

Twitter: @The_oldbutchers

Biography

Stephen grew up in Newborough and attended Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni where he was studying his NVQ in plumbing before deciding to give it all up for a career as a chef. A decision that left his family devastated when they heard he would be dropping out of college.

Stephen Stevens
Stephen Stevens

The change in career direction came after Steven was inspired by seeing Gordon Ramsay’s office when he was working in London. On a whim he decided to apply for a job working for the high profile chef’s collection of restaurants. With no intention of actually getting the job, Stephen soon found himself working for Gordon’s right hand man, Marcus Wareing at Petrus in Knightsbridge which has a star in the Michelin Guide UK.

Stephen soon found himself thrusted into a world of luxury cuisine where the young chef found it very difficult to integrate into his new career path at the very beginning. The head chef at the time had once even marched him into a fridge to clean it out while he told Stephen to rethink his career due to accidentally over-cooking one of the dishes.

Sosban & The Old Butchers

His wife, Bethan, who was caring for their first child, was thrilled to know that Stephen was following his interests. While Stephen was away working at Michel Roux’s restaurant, Roux at The Landau in the Langham Hotel the two decided to set up their own place in Anglesey with the aim of creating a limited menu to reduce wastage. Sosban & The Old Butchers officially opened its doors in Anglesey in November 2012.

This complimented the quaint size of the restaurant and made it more exclusive which also caught the attention of customers and critics. Eventually the menu narrowed down from three different dishes to one. At the time, Stephan and Bethan were anxious to see how customers would react to such a drastic change.

At the time, Bethan was unknowingly pregnant with their second child. Customers were notified of the changes and given a chance to cancel their reservations but did not. Fortunately for Stephan it only made the restaurant and the menu more inviting.

Food style

Some of the more popular choices on the menu include Stephen’s very own take on fish and chips which includes salted cod, yeast puree, puffed potatoes with grated ox heart and pickled onion rings. Diners can also enjoy a savoury Eton Mess made from smoked beetroot and yoghurt.

Accolades and awards

Sosban & The Old Butchers were awarded their first star in the Michelin Guide in 2016 and have also gained 3 Rosettes from the AA Restaurant Guide.

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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 7th November 2017

1 Michelin Star Chefs: Stephen Stevens, chef proprietor, Sosban & The Old Butchers