A PATISSERIE CHEF responsible for Anglesey’s successful Melin Llynnon project is set to expand the site with a new cafe, as well as buy and restore a second mill.

Richard Holt, who is from the island, took over Wales’s last working windmill, based in Llanddeusant, in April 2019.

Since then, it has become a highly-popular attraction, with the tearoom proving to be a particular success having been “fully-booked” since June of last year.

Now the 27-year-old, a former Ysgol Llangefni pupil, has announced that another cafe will open on site at Melin Llynnon in 2021.

Richard is also taking on a second project as he aims to restore the nearby Melin Hywel watermill.

The plan is to restore it into a flour producing watermill, as well as a museum of Anglesey life.

Richard said: “We are planning to open a cafe at Melin Llynnon in 2021 as the tearoom has become so exclusive, although we never meant it to. We’ve been inundated with visitors since last June and so it has become reservation-only..

“The plan when we first opened was to give back to the community and so the addition of the new cafe will allow us to cater for more people.

“In terms of Hywel Mill, we’re hoping it will be even more than consistent than Melin Llynnon. It will open to the public in its current state of disrepair in the summer.

“Over the next two or three years we will be restoring it back into working condition, all the while allowing the public to visit and watch the process take place.”

In the past, Richard has worked for Michelin star restaurant Marcus and The Gilbert Scott, which has three rosettes, both of which are in London and owned by celebrity chef Marcus Wareing.

He also worked alongside Amaury Guichon, who is regarded as one of the world’s best pastry artists.

At Melin Llynnon, the two-strong team of himself and partner Katie McCallum are responsible for the baking of the various types of cake available on site.

Melin Llynnon itself was built in Llanddeusant in 1775 and restored during the early 1980’s by the then island borough council and is still to this day the only working windmill in Wales.

Melin Hywel, also known as Felin Selar, is a 14th Century Grade II* listed watermill. The original mill building was restored in 1985.