Nathan Davies launches open-fire restaurant Vraic in Guernsey
Chef Nathan Davies, formerly of Michelin-starred SY23 in Aberystwyth, has opened a new restaurant in Guernsey. Located on Mont Cuet Road overlooking Chouet Bay, Vraic began service on 30th July. The restaurant focuses on open-fire cooking and highlights the island’s local seafood and coastal produce, including various native seaweeds. The opening marks Davies’s latest venture following his departure from SY23 and a move to Guernsey with his family.
Vraic, named after the Guernésiais word for seaweed, offers a seasonal tasting menu of ten to 12 courses, built around ingredients sourced from local suppliers such as Surf & Turf for fish and shellfish, and The Soil – a regenerative farm on the island – for vegetables. The kitchen is centred around a Basque-style open-fire grill, reflecting Davies’s fire-led culinary style. He is joined by his wife and operations manager, Hollie Davies, along with former SY23 colleagues including senior sous chef Kuba Biskup, and new team members based in Guernsey.
The restaurant’s interior design draws from the surrounding landscape, with charred timber walls, a bespoke wooden floor and local granite elements. Details such as repurposed fishing baskets and a chandelier inspired by seaweed further integrate the island’s heritage into the space. Guests can have drinks before or after their meal on the front terrace, which creates atmosphere with fire pits and sheepskin rugs, or upstairs with panoramic views of the bay. Beverage options include a wine pairing at £95, a curated low-intervention wine list and cocktails such as a Seaweed Martini made with locally harvested kelp. Non-alcoholic options include kombucha (brewed on the island) and botanical teas.
“These first months in Guernsey have confirmed everything we hoped for when making the move,” says Davies. “The island’s generosity has blown us away, meeting all the incredible local producers and cooking with their ingredients has been a true privilege. There’s a real pride here in what’s grown and harvested locally, and that’s exactly what we want to celebrate at Vraic.”
Food Desk
To book a table at Vraic, Mont Cuet Road, Vale, Isle of Guernsey GY3 5AT, call 01481 763630 or visit restaurant’s website here.
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