A RENOWNED restaurateur, broadcaster, food writer, and consultant will be a major part of a new food development at Lampeter’s university campus.

Professor Simon Wright has been appointed to the role of Professor of Practice by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and will be part of the team delivering Canolfan Tir Glas, a major development for the University’s Lampeter Campus.

The plans, reported by the Cambrian News last year, will see a food village on the site of the university’s playing fields at Ponfaen.

The plans include a 1,300 sq m Aldi store, car park, a food village, a community garden and a biodiversity area. alonside the creation of a new food and rural enterprise academy – to be named Canolfan Tir Glas.

“Working closely with Ceredigion County Council and a range of local organisations, the initiative will strengthen the economic infrastructure of Lampeter and the surrounding area,” the university said.

The scheme will see the development of a food and hospitality training centre within the town and the creation of a Rural Enterprise Hub and a University of Gastronomy on the university’s campus itself.

The food village will centre on the Aldi store and contain a cluster of local food cabins to promote local produce and to encourage the creation of new microbusinesses linked to the food industry.

Prof Wright will also assist in the development of the Lampeter training restaurant as part of the project.

Prof Wright has managed restaurants in Carmarthenshire for over 30 years and has developed a career as a broadcaster participating in a range of TV and radio programmes.

He was the restaurant consultant for Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares for 10 years, as well as a restaurant inspector for the AA’s Restaurant Guide.

In 2010 he was named the Local Food Ambassador for Wales and was awarded the Wales True Taste Champion Award in the Welsh Government’s annual awards.

“I’m pleased to have this opportunity to play a role in supporting the University’s ambitions for sustainable regeneration in West Wales based around the rural economy and particularly the food and hospitality industries,” Prof Wright said.

“There has never been a more crucial and acute time for these issues to be addressed.

“I’m delighted to have this opportunity and to be able to play a part in shaping the future of food and farming in West Wales and further afield.”

Gwilym Dyfri Jones, Provost of the Lampeter Campus who is leading on the development of Canolfan Tir Glas said: “I’m delighted that Simon Wright will be lending his expertise to the development of Canolfan Tir Glas.

“This initiative is underpinned by economic regeneration, with the aim of creating new jobs, attracting many more visitors to the town and increasing the number of further and higher education students studying in Lampeter.

“His insight and leadership on aspects of the project will be invaluable.”