THE head chef of a hotel and restaurant located near Bala says staff's 'collective efforts have been rewarded' after the venue was awarded a Green Michelin Star.

Pale Hall received the coveted title at the Michelin awards announced on Monday, January 25.

The Green Michelin star is an entirely new accolade which highlights restaurants who are at the forefront of the industry when it comes to sustainable practises.

Palé Hall has been recognised for its ethical and environmental standards at their fine dining restaurant 'Henry Robertson', which is run by head chef Gareth Stevenson.

it is there that an on-site hydroelectric plant, team uniforms made from recycled plastic as well as an incentive scheme for innovative contributions to reduce carbon footprint are all part of the restaurant’s verdant credentials.

They also grow organic herbs, vegetables and fruit using their own compost all of which appear on the restaurant’s menu throughout the year.

head chef Gareth said: “This is a genuine acknowledgement of all the processes in place at the hotel and it is great to have our collective efforts rewarded.

"From a kitchen perspective we have a very young team and made a conscious decision to work on team welfare meaning we reduced hours to improve people’s quality of life and increased cross training and development.

"We have worked long and hard on our relationships with our local suppliers and producers and only use heritage breeds which are processed and aged to our specification. Our relationship with the gardening team brings us a full eco-cycle; turning kitchen waste to compost that then fertilises vegetables and micro herbs that then make their way to the plate of our guests.

"We make a concerted effort to preserve food where possible as well, we have a wide selection of pickles, ferments, jam’s and chutneys, using our orchard apples as a base, to see us through the leaner months. “

Palé Hall sits at the foot of Snowdonia national park in the Dee Valley and is independently run by owners Alan and Angela Harper.

Part of the Relais Chateaux collection, it boasts five AA red stars and is recognised for its outstanding food, service and comfort.